Thank you Aya2019, Natsuki Sawada, and Beauty Is Beastly for the reviews and to those who favorited and followed.

All characters are owned by Hiro Mashima.

Chapter 4

Lucy slowly opens her eyes and notices it is still dark out. She feels something soft pressed against her back and her front is pressed against something hard. It takes her a bit to remember where she is at. That's right. She stayed at Bickslow's. They had fallen asleep on the couch while watching a movie. It had to have been no later than 9:30 when she fell asleep. She looks over his shoulder and can barely make out a clock on the wall and it looks as though it says it is four o'clock in the morning. Why in the hell would she be up this early?

She moves her free hand that is on his hip and slides it up his abdomen and chest. She takes in the feel of his toned body again. She is trying to not pay attention to his bulge so instead, she puts her fingers in his hair and plays with it. She thinks about the past 60 hours. From finding her now ex-boyfriend cheating on her with her best friend to her one-night stand, who isn't a one-night stand anymore. Not that she's complaining about the latter, she hasn't felt this satisfied in a long time. Before she has a chance to think anything further she feels Bickslow stirring awake.

Bickslow pretends to still be asleep when he feels her hand trail up his body. Both of his arms are wrapped around her. One hand resting in her soft hair, while the other is on her lower back. The feeling of her fingers sifting through his hair feels so good and he tries really hard not to brush his hard-on against her.

"Mmmm… What time is it?" He stretches and looks at her with a smile.

She smiles back and stretches out as well, "Four in the morning. Well, that is what it looks like on that clock over there."

"Let's go somewhere more comfortable and get back to sleep." Bickslow untangles himself from Lucy to get off of the couch so he can pick her up to take her to his bedroom and go back to bed.

Bickslow is the first to wake up with a comfortable Lucy lying on him. Her head is lying on his chest above his heart and her arm is draped over his abdomen, their legs tangled together. He caresses her back with one hand and the other plays with her hair.

Lucy snuggles further into him and quietly says, "That feels really nice."

"So, what are your plans for the day?"

"I don't know yet. I wasn't supposed to be here until Thursday. What about you? Do you work today?" Lucy runs her fingers through all the dips in Bickslow's abs admiring how well he takes care of himself.

"Nah, no work. I usually spend my days off working on my projects and orders."

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to keep you-"

Bickslow stops her with a kiss. "Nothing to apologize for. Now let's get up before I keep you in my bed all morning." He rolls out of bed and goes to the en-suite bathroom to relieve himself.

Lucy gets up, stretches, and shouts, "Would that be a bad thing?"

Bickslow walks out after washing his hands, wraps his arms around Lucy, and leans in to give her a chaste kiss. "No, I would love nothing more than to hold you hostage in my home, but you have catching up to do with your friends."

He lets her go and walks out of the bedroom with Lucy right behind him.

"Fuck, the clothes never got put in the dryer." Bickslow goes over to the machines to transfer the clothes to the dryer.

"It would be a good idea for me to meet with Gramps at the orphanage. The kids have probably missed me."

"Well while we wait for the clothes to dry, let's make breakfast." Bickslow goes straight for the fridge when they walk into the kitchen.

Lucy leans her side up against the counter and asks, "So what are we making today?"

Bickslow rummages through the fridge for the ingredients, "I'm going to teach you how to make what is called a Western Omelet if that's okay."

"Sure, what's all in it?"

Bickslow sets out a green pepper and yellow onion. He also gets the eggs, salt, pepper, and smoked paprika out. "Grated cheddar, jack, or swiss cheese. Depends on your preference. I prefer pepper jack." Bickslow gets the non-stick skillet and sets it on the stove.

"It sounds really good. What would you like me to do?" Lucy looks over everything Bickslow set out and she doesn't even have a clue as to where to start.

"Whisk the eggs in this bowl after seasoning them with salt and pepper. Don't stop until frothy. Afterward, you are going to dice half of this green pepper."

"I've never diced anything."

"I'll dice up the onion to show you." After Bickslow shows Lucy what to do he leaves her to do her tasks while he sets out to do his own.

"I'm really impressed with the work that you do. How did you get into carving furniture?"

"It's something I learned when I was a teenager. When I was twelve I moved from Trifecta to Hargeon. I didn't make any friends and no girls were interested in me, so I had plenty of time to do whatever after school after I did my homework. Here, can you cut up the ham?"

"Of course." Lucy begins to cut it once she's done dicing the green pepper. actually, she wouldn't call it diced, more like hacked up.

"I was thirteen when there was a festival in Hargeon, The Falling Leaves Festival." Bickslow tries to discreetly dice the pepper to make all of them of equal size.

"Oh, I've heard about that."

"Yeah, just a little festival nothing spectacular." Bickslow stirs up all the ingredients. "So, at the festival, I came across this booth of hand-carved items a man had done. His name was Axe, I know a funny name considering his interest in carving wood. He was a Native Fiorian, and his name meant 'one who is the father of peace'."

Lucy is leaning up against the counter again watching him cook and listening to him. "And was he the father of peace?"

Bickslow laughs, "The man was a riot. He was like a father to me. My parents well that's a story for another time. Axe was amused at my interest in the wood carvings and told me that if I wanted I could become his apprentice. So I figured why the hell not? After school and on the weekends he taught me everything I knew up until I left for college." Bickslow carefully folds the omelets in half to enclose the filling and slides them on plates. "Here, eat up!"

They sit on the stools at the kitchen island and dig in.

"What kind of things did you create when you first started?" Lucy asks after swallowing a bite. "And oh my Mavis that is really good."

Bickslow chuckles, "Thanks. It started with whittling sticks. When I got a good handle on that I worked on walking sticks. Once I got better I made rocking horses, and toy blocks. I helped with making lamps and end tables. I even made my own skateboard. After I painted it Axe helped me put on the hardware. It was one of his friends that wanted me to make a totem pole."

"That's when you decided to research that."

"Yes, he wanted the animals of the different clans in their tribe. I then got sucked into the knowledge of totem poles and the difference they have with tikis. The Native Fiorian totem pole he wanted me to create got me sucked into Native Fiorian culture as well. Axe was part of the Bear Clan."

"You keep talking in the past tense so it's safe to assume he's no longer with us?"

"Yeah, he passed away last year. Heart failure."

Lucy reaches over and gives his hand a squeeze, "I'm sorry to hear about that."

Bickslow squeezes her hand back, "It's alright. When I came home from college he was the one who gave me the idea of starting my own business. I became really close with Laxus in college and decided to settle down here in Magnolia. I honestly fell in love with the place. It's not too big of a city but it's not a small town either."

"I have definitely missed this town. Did you still see Axe during college and when you settled down here?"

"I didn't have much time during college, between studies, partying, and working I was pretty busy. He understood. Afterward, I visited him every weekend. Most of the time we spent time in his workshop working on bigger projects. I have a lot of the furniture he made throughout the years, including what we made together, in storage that I don't have the heart to sell. It doesn't feel right but he told me I could. It was his gift to me. He has always been very proud of me."

"Aww, that's sweet. I can understand being apprehensive about not wanting to part with sentimental objects."

"Oh yeah? How so?"

"Nothing I'm comfortable talking about at the moment. Can we table it for another time?"

"Of course. You don't have to tell me anything you are not ready to." Bickslow gets up to take care of the dishes and at the same time the dryer dings, so Lucy goes to get her clothes.

She dresses right there in the hall. Bickslow has already seen it all so why bother going into another room? She puts the boxers in the washer and Bickslow's shirt back on tying a knot at the bottom.

Lucy misses the soft smile on Bickslow's face when he checks her out, back in his shirt. He then heads towards his room, "Let me go get dressed and we can head out."

Lucy checks out the photos he has on the wall while she waits. Bickslow comes out and grabs her hand to take her through the door that leads into two two-door garage housing his motorcycle and his black 2019 Dodge Ram. It's a stereotypical garage with a workbench and tools for working on vehicles. There are shelves for other things such as paint cans, spray paint, and painting tools. He opens the truck door for her, and she gets in and buckles while he makes his way to the other side. As he is pulling out of the garage he turns on the radio and You Shook Me All Night Long by AC/DC is on the radio.

"Oh, my Mavis! I love this song." Lucy exclaims and turns it up.

She was a fast machine, she kept her motor clean
She was the best damn woman that I ever seen
She had sightless eyes, telling me no lies
Knocking me out with those American thighs

Lucy pretends to have a microphone and leans into Bickslow, singing.

Taking more than her share, had me fighting for air
She told me to come, but I was already there
Cause the walls start shaking, the Earth was quaking
My mind was aching and we were making it

And you shook me all night long
Yeah, you shook me all night long

Bickslow thinks to himself that she definitely shook him all night long. Lucy puts her imaginary microphone up to Bickslow's mouth and he sings along too.

Working double time on the seduction line
She's one of a kind, she's just mine, all mine
Wanted no applause, it's just another course
Made a meal outta me, and come back for more

She takes it back so as not to distract Bickslow too much. He watches her in the corner of his eye as she dances and sings in the seat.

Had to cool me down to take another round
Now I'm back in the ring to take another swing
That the walls were shaking, the Earth was quaking
My mind was aching, and we were making it

And you shook me all night long
Yeah, you shook me all night long

Other than the music playing, the ride is quiet. Before they know it, Bickslow is pulling into her driveway and turning the engine off.

Lucy looks over at Bickslow, "Aside from my breakdown I had a really good time."

"Me as well and you can have a breakdown on me anytime."

Lucy covers her face with her hands, "Ugh that was embarrassing."

Bickslow pulls her hands off of her face and gently turns her head to face him, "seriously, don't worry about it." He cups her cheek and gently caresses it with his thumb. They lock eyes for a few seconds and then Bickslow drops his hands and clears his throat, "So what are your plans for the day?"

"Going to the orphanage to see Gramps and the kids. Then possibly seeing Levy."

"What about tonight?"

"Gramps, Laxus, Mira, and I are having dinner tonight. You can join us if you would like."

"I don't want to intrude on family time."

"Oh nonsense, you know they won't mind, and I would like you there."

"What time?"

"Is six okay?"

"That's completely fine."

"Hand me your phone."

Bickslow pulls it out of his pocket and hands it to her.

"Here is my number. I'm going to send myself a text."

"Thanks, I'll make sure to get ahold of you later."

Lucy hands him back his phone and gives him a kiss on the cheek. "I'll see you later."

She gets out and runs up to the front door. Bickslow watches and doesn't leave until she's inside the house.

Lucy finds her keys on the kitchen counter. She showers and decides on skinny jeans, a plain blue t-shirt, and an old pair of Converse shoes that are still in her closet. She throws her hair up into a messy bun and calls it good.

She walks to the orphanage and runs into Yukino on the way there and chats before going their separate ways. Yukino and Minerva work in the kitchen. Kinana is Gramps assistant. She will be taking over. Levy and Rufus both teach a class. If she recalls correctly Levy teaches the morning class on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Rufus teaches in the afternoon. On Tuesday and Thursday, it is reversed. When they aren't teaching they are at the Magnolia Library.

When Lucy arrives, the kids are eating breakfast, so she takes that time to talk with Gramps. Lucy finds him in the common area reading a newspaper, and a coffee mug on a table next to him.

"Hey, Gramps!"

He looks up at Lucy and smiles. He sets the newspaper to the side. "I tried calling you, but it kept going to voicemail. I even tried that texting thing you guys do."

"Oh? I turned my phone off. I was getting bombarded with texts and phone calls from Ren and Sherry." Lucy turns her phone on, and the phone is overrun by missed calls and hundreds of messages. Maybe not literally hundreds, but it seems that much. "Yeah, it would have taken me a while to find it." She puts her phone away and before she can sit down kids are dashing into the room bombarding her for hugs. Lucy greets them all. Eventually, Kinana gathers them up to take them to class.

"Those kids are so cute!"

"Yes, they are and nowhere near bratty as you brats!"

Lucy puts her hands on her hips and pouts. "Hey! We weren't all that bad."

Gramps raises an eyebrow at her.

Lucy holds up her hands, "Okay okay. I concede."

"So how are you doing my dear?"

Lucy takes a seat next to him and replies, "I'm doing alright actually. Being back here has been really nice and a breath of fresh air, both literally and figuratively."

"Does it also have to do with a certain man you spent the night with?"

"Maybe? I mean, he is great. A fun and interesting person to be around."

"But?"

"But I just got out of a relationship."

"Yes, a relationship that just wasn't meant to be."

"Yeah, I guess not. Anyways, Bickslow and I agreed to be friends."

Gramps twirls his mustache. "Hmm... Just friends or what was it that Laxus had with that one girl?"

"Friends with benefits." Lucy blushes. She really does not want to be talking about that with her grandpa. "I just don't think it would be a good idea to jump right onto another relationship."

"No one said anything about jumping into another relationship, but can you do something for me?"

"What's that?"

"Keep your heart open to the possibility that there is someone who can give you the love and happiness that you deserve."

"And you think that person is Bickslow?"

Gramps shrugs, "Maybe, maybe not. Just keep your heart open."

"I can try."

"And please continue having sex with the man."

"GRAMPS!"

"What? It was difficult keeping in touch because you get cranky when you haven't gotten laid. Just like Laxus—"

"Gramps, please stop."

"If one didn't know any better you would think you two are biological siblings."

"As far as I'm concerned we are and you're my biological Grandfather."

Gramps gets teary-eyed, "And you're biologically our family too."

They hug. "I love you, gramps."

"I love you too Lucy." They both wipe the tears away. "So, what are your plans for today?"

"I wanted to come here to visit and have lunch with Levy once her class is over. She still teaches Monday mornings right?"

"Yup. Her schedule is still Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings."

"Awesome. I'm going to clean out my phone while I wait. I will see you later tonight at dinner."

"Just the four of us?"

"I may have invited Bickslow."

"Just friends with benefits don't invite each other to dinner with their family."

"Whatever and it's not like he doesn't already know you, Laxus, and Mira."

"Just saying a simple statement."

"Whatever Grandpa. See you then!" Lucy gets up and leaves the room.

She sits at an empty table in the lobby and cleans out her phone while waiting for the kids to go to lunch so she can join Levy. She texts Ren to leave her alone, they'll talk about everything later but now isn't a good time. He tries calling and she declines it. She sees a message from her grandpa and it's clear he still hasn't gotten ahold of texting. Lucy also sees phone calls and messages from her Editor-In-Chief Aqua (short for Aquarius) and coworkers Leo and Virgo. Virgo is her assistant and Leo is a fact-checker. She shoots off a quick text letting them know she's fine and will fill them in tomorrow.

Class lets out and Levy stops short when she sees Lucy.

"Lu!"

Lucy gets up and smiles when she sees Levy. "Her girl! Long time no see!"

"I heard you were in town."

"And I'm sure you've heard why."

"Yes, it's awful what that asshole did."

"C'mon let's go have lunch and talk."

They walk and talk on their way to the cafeteria. Lucy apologizes for not keeping in touch more. Levy tells her she understands and asks if she is going to get any more novels to edit. Lucy says she is not sure. Maybe. This was one way Levy and Lucy were able to keep in touch. She and Levy would Facetime in Lucy's free moments to get Levy's input on the chapters she wrote for her novel.

They sit down to eat and Lucy talks about what happened with Ren and her time with Bickslow. Levy tells her she knew about the breakup because word has already gotten around but she's surprised Mira hasn't said anything about her and Bickslow. Levy promises not to say anything. Lucy tells her that she can tell Gajeel if she really feels the need to talk to someone about it. She knows Gajeel isn't a gossip. Levy says the same thing Bickslow did. It doesn't seem like Lucy and Ren had much of a relationship. She should give Bickslow a chance, he is a good man. Lucy decides to change the topic and asks about the kids, Gale and Cole who are 6-year-old twin brothers, and their sister Torrey, who is 4.

"Gale and Cole have been going around the house "fixing things". Gajeel has to go and fix what they "fixed"," Levy chuckles.

Lucy chuckles with Levy, "I bet he just loves that."

"He grumbles about it, but it makes him happy they want to be like him. Torrey has tried showing her brothers books about fixing things to help them but they insist they know what they're doing."

"That's cute."

"It really is. Ah! Look at the time! I got to get going and back to the library so Rufus can make it in time for the afternoon class."

They both get up and hug each other.

"If I don't see you again in the next few days, I'll see you at the bachelorette party."

"Plus, you'll be here for two weeks so we'll definitely be able to do this again."

Lucy follows Levy out the door. She stops in the doorway and watches her walk away. She then decides to go for a walk around the grounds of the property. It's so beautiful and brings back fond memories. Trying to help grow fruits and vegetables in the greenhouses. Their friend Droy banned her because she somehow managed to kill everything she tried to take care of. The only plants she was able to keep alive were perennial plants that she helped Mira plant around the building.

A playground that Natsu and Gray would constantly hurt themselves on. Instead of going across the monkey bars like you're supposed to, they made it a competition running across the top. They had injuries from being spooked and falling from any area they were at by Erza yelling at them.

There's also a basketball court where she learned that sports weren't her thing. The boys and some of the girls would also play football, baseball, and soccer in the yard. Even though they didn't have a field for either sport, they made it work. She made a good cheerleader, so she decided to sign up for high school. She made the team of course.

Magnolia High Fairies. Rumor has it that the person who started the Magnolia Orphanage had convinced the townspeople to make their mascot the fairy symbol the orphanage has.

That was quite the transition for them, going from elementary and middle school classes at the orphanage to the high school with the other kids in town. She was glad she transferred with her closest friends and that her other friends were already attending. That's where Levy had met Gajeel, and Gray had met Juvia. Both Gajeel and Juvia transferred from Oaktown, home of the Oaktown Phantoms.

She had a couple of boyfriends, but it never lasted long because all of her "brothers" would interrogate them, and eventually, guys just stopped approaching her. Her "brothers" convinced her to go to prom with a guy named Vijeeter. A completely harmless guy who only cared about dancing.

Lucy decides to sit on the pier at the little lake behind the building. She wades her feet in the water after taking off her shoes, and socks and rolls her pant legs up. Many summers were spent in this lake swimming and in winter it was the perfect place to go ice skating.

So many memories here and what does she have in Crocus? She studied her ass off at college, making sure she got good grades and working for the college newspaper. When she wasn't studying or working on the newspaper she was working at a 24 hr diner. A girl had to eat and buy new clothes. She did make a few friends and went to a couple of college parties. Met a guy at each one, got what she wanted, and then never talked to them again.

When she got hired at Stellar, she started as an administrative assistant and busted her ass climbing up the ladder. She accomplished her dreams of working at a popular magazine company and publishing a novel. She thought she found someone to settle down with. Look how that turned out.

Did she really want to spend the rest of her life working a job that really doesn't make her happy anymore? Or is the thought of going back to work making her anxious because of how awkward it will be now?

Lucy carries her shoes and socks while she walks barefoot back to the front of the orphanage and calls Mira to let her know that she will get everything that's needed for dinner. She asks if there's anything else, and Mira tells her that she's just finishing up going over everything one last time with Lisanna and to wait so they can go together.

Mira arrives just as Lucy puts herself back in order.

"Hey, Lucy! Were you down by the lake?"

"Yeah, just reminiscing and reflecting back on my life."

Mira links her arm with Lucy's, and they start down the street. "That was always your favorite place to go and think, get inspired to write."

"Yeah, until Natsu would pick me up and throw me in."

"For a while, I thought you two would date, because of how close you two were."

"Yeah, no. What will we be having for dinner anyway?"

"Laxus wants to grille ribs and corn on the cob. I'm thinking I want to do a simple potato salad, seasoned green beans, and strawberry shortcake for dessert."

"Wow! Sounds good but, did Laxus have to pick something so messy?"

"It's just going to be the four of us, no reason to worry about getting sauce all over your face."

Lucy blushes and looks away from Mira, "well, I may have invited Bickslow to dinner."

Mira squeals, "I knew you two would be good together!"

"Mira, it's not what you're thinking. We're just friends and want to get to know each other better."

"Mmhmm." Mira smirks. She knows how Lucy can be, so she'll just keep quiet and let it all play out. Too bad she won't be here to see it but that's okay, she knows Gramps will keep her in the loop.

Western Omelet Recipe: seriousseatsdotcom western-omelette-with-bell-pepper-onion-ham-and-cheese

I decided to add AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long" in this chapter. There are other songs I may include later that I've listened to while writing this.

Axe is actually a Scandinavian name that does mean Father of Peace.