Wendy had just had the best day of her life. First she was given a pretty dress to wear just like the ones rich girls would wear and she would always dream of wearing, then she went with Erza to real tea party where she had a delicious meal and felt like a real lady, and afterward she went on stroll with Jellal who showed her every room and every function of the Titanic. But her favorite thing had to be when he brought her up to the front of the ship where he taught her how to feed the sea gulls.
"My grandmother loved feeding the birds." He told her. "I remember how when I was a boy and I would visit her in the Summer, I'd see her feeding the pigeons and the doves, and I would try to catch one to keep as a pet. And I would get so upset when she'd tell me that I couldn't keep any of them. I'd then whine that I only wanted to keep them so I could see them everyday. So she told me that as long as I fed them, they'd come back for me to see."
"Did it work?" Wendy asked him.
"Yes it did. My grandmother was a very smart woman, you know. Smarter than most people gave her credit for. They always assumed that after my grandfather died, she'd never make it on her own, but she proved them wrong. god, she was an amazing woman. One of the two most amazing women in my life."
"Who's the other?"
"Erza. You know she pretty much had nothing when she was born. No father, her mother was sick a lot, and she was so poor that she couldn't even go to school. She had to work a job and she was just a child. Lots of people thought she was good for nothing, but I never did. I knew she was incredible from the first moment I saw her, and so did my grandmother. And you know, what's really funny?"
"What?"
"We were only eight when we first met and already my grandmother knew that someday we were going to get married. If only she could have been there for our wedding."
"Did she..." Wendy trailed off, not sure if she was in the position to ask.
"Yes, she had already passed on by then. But Erza told me that the night before our wedding, she had dreamed that my grandmother had visited her to give her blessing and that she could feel her presence during the whole ceremony."
"Do you believe that?"
"I have no doubt in my mind." He chuckled softly.
"You really miss her, don't you?"
"That I do. We all miss somebody."
"Not me. I don't have anyone to miss." Wendy said. "I was too young to remember my parents and no one really cared for me at the orphanage. I've always been on my own."
Jellal gently put his arm around Wendy and gave her a comforting touch. He had forgotten that this child had never known what it was like to be loved by someone. What it was like to have a family. It couldn't imagine how sad and lonely that must be.
"Tell you what, it's getting late." He said. "Erza will soon have to leave for a dinner and I'm needed for a meeting, so let's take you back to our room."
"Can't I come with either one of you?"
"No. Not tonight. You're too young for these type of functions. Now don't worry, you won't be alone. We'll have the maid stay with you until we get back."
So while Jellal was getting Wendy settled for the evening, his wife was helping Natsu and Juvia get ready for the banquet hall with some assistance from Mirajane. Erza ran a hot bath for each, loaned Natsu one of Jellal's suits, and Mirajane to let Juvia wear one of her designer gowns, then they aided them with other means of appearance.
"Hmm...Now let take a good look at you." Mirajane said, examining Juvia's appearance before picking out which dress for her to wear. You seem to have a cooler undertone but you also have some pink in your cheeks which I would love to accentuate."
"That's very kind of you." Juvia said, wearing a bathrobe. "But any old dress will do."
"Oh no." Mirajane shook her head. "No, those snobs up there are expecting you to look ridiculous. To serve as a form of amusement and entertainment. But that's not going to happen. You are going to wow them."
After giving her another good look over, she opened the wardrobe and combed through the dresses. Finally she picked one out that was perfect and helped Juvia change into it. Followed by sitting her down at a vanity and doing her hair and make up.
"Ow!" Natsu complained in the suite, as Erza combed through his wet hair. "You don't have to yank so hard!"
"Sorry but this hair of yours is a rat's nest." She said. "It's like it's never even been combed."
"Probably because it hasn't."
"You mean you've never brushed or combed your hair?"
"I can't afford a brush or a comb."
"Good lord! And you were actually going into a first class banquet hall with hair like this?" She said. "Lucky thing you met me, otherwise you would have everyone at dinner laughing at you."
In the end though. Natsu needed more than just a good combing. He needed a trim and shave as well. She grabbed a pair of scissors along with her husband's razor and cream, snipping off a few ends and whiskers on the third-class man. After that, she had him wearing a fine tuxedo. One of the finest her husband owned, and of course Jellal was more than happy to loan it. When Natsu saw how he looked in the tall mirror, he almost didn't recognize himself. His hair was neatly combed, his face smooth and clear, his clothing fancy and expensive. You'd never know that he was a man who lived on the streets.
"My, my, my, you shine up like a new penny." Erza said putting the jet-black jacket on to Natsu, in order to complete his ensemble. "And I was right, you and my husband are about the same size."
"God if my brother could see me now." Natsu said.
"You'll knock em dead tonight for sure." Erza assured him. "Let's head over to Mirajane's suite and see how Miss Juvia looks."
They arrived at the door just as Mirajane was putting the finishing touches on her. She was very nervous. Not sure what everyone would think once they saw her. Not sure what Gray would think when he saw her.
"Come out sweetie." Mirajane encouraged her. "Don't be shy."
"I...I don't think I can do this." They heard her voice reply from inside. "What if I don't look right?"
"You look fine. Now stop being silly, you don't want to keep everyone waiting, do you?"
"Here, let me talk to her." Erza suggested. "You two go on ahead."
Mirajane and Natsu nodded then went down the hall. Erza stepped inside the suite and found Juvia sitting nervously on a sofa bed. When she heard the door open, she stood up and turned around. Allowing Erza to see her new look.
Juvia was wearing an evening dress of cream chiffon and satin with beads, and silk flower appliques. Along the skirt and waist was more lovely beading, more constructed flowers, and a pretty blue bow. She was no longer wearing that shawl so her hair could be better seen and it had been styled pulled back and swept to the side in a braid, with a blue ribbon to match the one around her waist. Her make up consisted of powder to match her ivory skin, light colored rouges and lip coloring, and silver-mauve shadow for her eyes. For accessories she wore long white opera gloves and pearl-stud earrings.
"Oh my goodness." Erza said gasping and smiling softly.
"What?" Juvia asked, worried that she looked ridiculous.
"Oh Juvia, you're the loveliest thing I've ever seen. So pretty."
"I'm...Pretty?" She said, finding it hard to believe such a notion.
"As a dew-drop kissed rose. Didn't you look at yourself in the mirror?"
"I was too afraid of what I'd see. I'm not exactly what one would call a great beauty."
"Says who? You can be whatever you want if you believe that you can." She led Juvia over to the mirror. "Now look at yourself but do it with an open mind. Think to yourself 'I am beautiful' ."
Juvia did as Erza said and when she saw her reflection, she was at a loss for words. She looked stunning. She looked exactly like all those lovely ladies wearing petticoats and bonnets who would have gentlemen at their beck and call. It made her smile.
"That's better." Erza said.
"But I'm scared." She confessed. "Scared of what'll happen while I'm in there. I mean, what if I do something wrong?"
"I know exactly how you feel. You're thinking what if I say the wrong thing? Or pick up the wrong utensil? What if I can't understand what everyone's talking about? What if I trip over these damn fancy shoes I have to wear? What if I end up embarrassing the man who sees so much in me, when I don't see anything? Am I correct?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"Because I've been there Honey. I wasn't born first-class, but I fell in love with a man who was, and I was so afraid of letting him down. Of proving to the society he belonged in, that I was nothing and that he had wasted his love on me. But being loved by him, made me realize something. Something I hope you'll remember til your dying day. Money and class doesn't make you any more or any less than anybody. It doesn't determine what's in your heart or how God sees you or how much you're loved. All that is determined just by you being you. And I haven't known you long, but I can tell your ten-times worth more than you think you are."
Juvia's smile grew and tears of joy brimmed in her eyes. No one had ever said anything like that to her before. No one had ever made her feel beautiful like this before, and she had always wondered what it be like. And she decided that it felt wonderful.