"Poor fool." Gajeel thought upon discovering Natsu's instant infatuation with Lucy. "He's aiming way too high. But I can't say I blame him. I'm going after a lady who's way too good for me."
He spent five more minutes talking to Gray and Natsu, then slipped down even lower into the third class decks and entered a hallway. At the other end of the hallway there stood Lucy's maid Levy. For a moment they just stood there on separate ends, staring at the person who stood opposite of them. Suddenly they ran to each other, threw their arms around one another, and started to kiss with deep passion and devotion.
"I can't believe you're really here." Levy said between kisses.
"That makes two of us." He said.
"Are you excited?" She asked him.
"Yep. In just a few days we'll be in America living our dreams. Seeing new places, meeting new people, I'll become a famous musician and you will finally give up the mid servant job and become a teacher."
"And we'll get married, right?"
Gajeel and Levy had met about a year ago, when he along with his sister and stepmother had moved to England for better opportunities, Gajeel had been performing on the streets while Levy was out shopping for Lucy. She heard his music and was among the few to really appreciate it. The tunes and melodies were unlike anything she had ever heard before, it was so energentic and giddy. It made her just want to just drop everything and start dancing without a single care.
When Gajeel saw the smile on her face and how bright her eyes were, he became intrigued and introduced himself. He told her about where he was from, about his passion for music, and his dream to make it a profession even though so many people were picky about what was considered good music. She in turn told him about how she come over from Norway and worked as a maid, but she really wanted to be an English teacher because she had a passion for literature. Unfortunately being a woman didn't make accomplishing that goal in England very easy.
Gajeel and Juvia had never been to school so neither one of them had much of an education, but Levy was smart as a whip and upon learning this, Gajeel asked her if she would be interested in teaching him and his sister. Levy was happy to oblige. From then on, every Sunday after church, Gajeel and Juvia would sneak away from Selene and meet Levy at the library for some lessons. Well of course Gajeel and Levy fell in love and it wasn't long before they considered marriage.
Now Gajeel wanted to marry Levy. Nothing would have pleased him more than to begin a new life with her, a life where they could love and support each other. Where they could build home for themselves and live out their dreams together. Levy was the first happiness he had known since his father died and in any other time and place, he would have already proposed to her. But Gajeel had a certain responsibility to consider.
"We might have to put our engagement on hold for awhile." He told her.
"Why? Is it money? Gajeel we don't need money to get married. I'm not one of those women who expect a big and extravagant wedding. All I want is us in a church, and that probably won't cost anything."
"It's not about the wedding?"
"Do you want to wait until we can afford to have a house of our own? Or until our careers take off?"
"While those factors are something we should definitely consider, it's not the main one on my mind."
"Then what is?"
"It's my sister. If I go and marry you, she's left all alone with that unholy banshee who tormented us."
"She can come with us then."
"She won't do it. Years ago, before I met you, I sugggested that we run away together and try to live on our own. But she said she couldn't go because she'd never find work anywhere due to being a girl with no education. I told her that I would provide for the both of us, but she insisted on not being a burden. Still she encouraged me to leave because she believed I had potential."
"You do have potential and so does she."
"I know that but she doesn't believe it. Our stepmother has pretty much gaslight Juvia into believing that she is completely worthless. That she has no talents, no abilities, that she can't make it out there by herself. That no one could possibly love her or want her, and that she's better off staying with Selene."
"Heavens!" Levy gasped. "I knew Selene was wicked but that...Why would she do something like that?"
"Because she's a bloody bitch of the devil! That's why! And God only knows how many times I've wanted to rip her to bits like a hound, for what she did to Juvia! She's destroyed any self worth or respect that Juvia had for herself and if I wasn't around, Selene probably would have turned my baby sister into a whore for profit!"
He stamped his foot and almost slammed a fist against the wall, but Levy caught hold of the first with a gentle yet firm grasp.
"Calm down." She told him softly.
At her request, Gajeel took a deep breath and steadied his temper, remembering on ship like this, people like him needed to be very careful about how they behaved. Especially when the rich and powerful were so close by.
"I'm sorry." He told his lover. "You're right, I need to keep my head. It's just that...I promised my father on his deathbed that I'd always look out for Juvia. Our mother was already long gone, Da was fading away, there was no one left. We had to rely on each other growing up. Then I met you and but she has nobody. I'm sorry Levy, but I can't go and have a life with you until I know for sure that Juvia will be alright without me."
Levy smiled at him tenderly and gave his cheek a soft carress.
"I understand. I would give anything in all the world to have at least one member of my family still with me, so I know how precious she is to you and you are to her. I can be patient."
"You don't have to." He said looking downward at his boots. "I don't know when I'll be able to leave her. It may take days, weeks, months, it might take until Selene drops dead. I don't expect you to wait that long. You have my permission to find someone else."
Levy took Gajeel's chin into her hands and lifted his face up to meet her lips in another sweet kiss.
"I want more than anything to be your wife." She said when their mouths came apart. "I love you. But love is never easy, that's what my mother always said, God rest her soul. It means patience, understanding, and sacrifice. It's such things that are proof that your love is real. Perhaps waiting is how I'll prove to you and the world that my love is true."
"Levy I don't doubt your love."
"I know, but if I leave you just because we have some problems, how can I say that I ever truly loved you? Especially when you are a man willing to put his happiness on hold for the well-being of another. And we don't have to get married right away. There are so many other things I can focus on when we reach America. I still haven't figured out how what school I should attend to get a teaching degree or if I can even afford it. Take all the time you need to help your sister."
Gajeel looked at Levy with eyes of pure adoration, gratitude, and astonishment. She was the most remarkable woman he had ever met in his entire life. Beautiful, intelligent, kind, understanding, talented, she almost seemed unreal to him.
"I love you so much." He said hugging her.
"I love you too." She whispered into his ear. "And I'll help Juvia too. She may not have gone to school, but she's a very smart girl and can learn fast. I'm sure with my help, she'll learn enough to find a suitable job. Maybe even go to college with me."
"Let's just start with trying to get her to leave Selene. Once she's away from that woman, she'll be able to really live. I should have tried to find her a husband."
"A husband?"
"In Ireland there are only two ways to escape an awful life. You either get rich or you get married. And it wouldn't be too hard to find someone to marry Juvia. She's a good woman, she's beautiful, she can cook and clean, she can sing. Only issue would have been the dowry. I wonder what two sheep would have gotten her?"
"Gajeel I don't think buying her a husband with sheep is the answer."
"That's how my parents got married. Me Ma was not only the most beautiful woman in the village, but she had an entire flock for her dowry. It was a deal breaker."
"We'll talk about this later." Levy said, trying not yo laugh at the notion. "I have to go now. My mistress will be needing me to help her dress for dinner soon. But I'll see you tonight, in the general room, after six."
"I'll be there." He assured her.
That evening Lucy joined her father and her fiance for a first class dinner at an elegant table set with sliver and the finest china money could buy. A fine drink and a finely prepared meal was served to her, yet she couldn't eat one bite or swallow one sip. She was too busy trying to comprehend the words spoken between Jude and Dan.
"I've had it written on the invitations that the wedding shall take place the week we arrive." Dan said. "We should be married as soon as possible."
"I agree." Jude said.
"And I've invited only the must exclusive of our associates. The creme de la creme."
"But Levy is invited right?" Lucy asked.
"Well naturally she'll be among the servers at the reception." Dan chuckled. "But attending the ceremony as a guest? I think not."
"But Levy is my best friend Dan. I want her there."
"Servants will never be considered guests in my household."
"Levy isn't your servant. She's mine."
"She's his servant now that you two are engaged." Jude said. "If he wants her at that wedding as only a server then it shall be that way and nothing more shall be said."
"But Father-"
"We are done discussing this Lucy. Keep quiet and finish your meal."
"No thank you Father." She said getting up from her chair. "I'm not very hungry anyway. I think I'll retire to my room now. Goodnight Dan, goodnight Father."
She dismissed herself from the dining hall and walked back to the suite looking perfectly composed. Once inside her room, she caught sight of her reflection in the mirror and staring at it made her realize something. Lucy could see her whole life as if she'd already lived it. An endless parade of parties and cotillions, yachts and polo matches, always the same narrow people and the same mindless chatter. She felt like standing was standing at a great precipice, with no one to pull her back, no one who cared or even noticed.
Suddenly she let out a primal, anguished cry and clawed at her throat, ripping off her gold necklace and throwing it on to the floor. Next she tore at her clothes and hair, followed by flinging everything off her dresser and against the wall. Tears of frustration were forming in her eyes, she just couldn't take it anymore.