One bright beautiful morning, Lucy Heartfillia, daughter and heiress to the Heatfillia Konzern, sat at her desk writing her dreams into a notebook. Following in her parent's footsteps in their success in business, Lucy had become accustomed to the business world and studying anything related to that. She didn't mind taking over the business, especially since that's as all she had known growing up. She was twenty years young, long blonde locks, mesmerizing chocolate eyes that mirrored her mothers, and blessed in every physical aspect to her brain. She was the apple of her parent's eye, their golden Lucky Lucy who was loved dearly and worshiped like the princess she was.

Her parents had raised her to be gentle and caring, her personality sweet as honey as she became an empath who adored anyone and everyone to cross paths with. But she also had her mother's fiery spirit and was sometimes labeled as cheeky.

Lucy dreamt about becoming an author, hoping her dreams could become reality with a little help from her family. Her parents never pressured her into the business but they were lucky enough that Lucy considered it and cared about it and wanted to learn.

As Lucy wrote loving sentences into her notebook, a knock on the door had her turn her head and face the door where her beautiful mother poked her head in.

Lucy instantly perked up, closing her notebook to stand up to meet her halfway. "Mama! What can I do for you?"

Layla smiled back at her, embracing her into a tight hug. "Lucy, we're going out today. You should get ready."

"Where are we going?"

"You'll see." Layla giggled, making Lucy raise her eyebrows. "Now hurry now! You know papa hates waiting."

"Yes, mama." Lucy said like the good daughter she was and Layla left it at that.

The young blonde was quick to shower, washing her golden locks and scrubbing her milky skin of vanilla scented body wash. She didn't take her time like she liked to since her mother had warned her that papa did not like to wait and she was in and out in less than thirty minutes, pulling on some jeans and a nice blue blouse. She brushed through her hair and tied a ribbon to the side of her head for a side pony and she was slipping out the door just in time her parents were coming into the foyer.

Layla's smile didn't seem to want to leave her beautiful face but Jude looked displeased, lips pressed into a tight line. "Lucy, you should have worn something more appropriate."

"Isn't this appropriate?" She asked, confused as she looked at her mom for approval.

"No, a dress would have been better. Like your mother."

"Honey, it's alright. It's not that special." Layla tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and kissed the top of her head, ushering her out the house. Lucy smiled and snickered silently at her father's dismay and he let out a sigh to indicate he wasn't happy but allowed it to slide because his wife said so.

The Heartfillia's piled in the car and the driver seemed to know where to go without any directions. Lucy didn't care to watch or ask where they were going, her face glued to her cellphone as she mindlessly scrolled through social media. She was used to these type of things where her parents dragged her off to certain events or meetings and most of the time she was tossed into a room with kids around her age to talk nonsense and wait for their parents to be done with god knows what.

Moments passed until they came to a halt, Lucy taking her time to look out the window to see an unfamiliar driveway and estate that they were approaching.

The driver was quick to announce their arrival and they were climbing out the vehicle, saying their greetings to the many maids around and thanking their driver as he lingered back. They were ushered into the magnificent home that Lucy was in awe with, seeing the foliage that wrapped around the home and the many flowers that held their heads high to soak in some sunlight.

Coming inside of the home was a better experience for her, seeing how the beautiful renaissance paintings hung on the walls and the accents of the home portraying such beauty and class.

While she had been in many homes like this, she was surprised to feel a cozy atmosphere as they were taken to a sunroom, glasses of tea placed out on the coffee table with light snacks.

"This is a beautiful home," Lucy commented once they were alone and sitting down.

"Isn't it?" Layla could only giggle.

"Have you been here mama?"

"Of course I have."

It felt like forever when they were just sitting around drinking tea and picking at the snacks. They shared light conversation and Lucy felt antsy, finding the need to use the bathroom as she stood up from her seat. "I have to use the bathroom."

A maid was quick to be at her side, showing her the way to the bathroom as Lucy took in more of this beautiful home. It was clean and spotless but it also showed character. It looked lived in, unlike her large home that didn't occupy that much. She was a single child growing up so it was sometimes lonely but her mom and dad always tried to make her feel loved and full. She couldn't say she had the worst upbringing but it would have been nice with a sibling.

After using the bathroom and checking herself in the mirror to fix her hair and make sure she didn't have anything in her teeth, she opened the door to crash into a warm body. It made her squeal and she lost her footing, falling to the ground. She expected some impact but was surprised when she heard someone yelp and she fell on the said person, the feeling of warmth and dampness under her hands.

She lifted her head in the midst of her fall and she was surprised to look into the eyes of a man, a confused expression painted on his face as she gaped like a fish. He was handsome (and sweaty) and he looked to be around her age. And she was on top of him! She could feel her cheeks grow hot as she watched him open his mouth to speak.

"Who the hell are you?"

She was instantly stunned at his response and she felt her lips turn into a frown and her enchantment disappeared. "Is that how you say hi to people?"

"I asked who you are." He repeated a bit more harshly.

Lucy didn't like his tone and pushed herself off of him, standing up to dust herself off and straighten her blouse as she watched the said guy—who had pink hair?—stand up and eye her skeptically. He was much taller than she was and built very deliciously. He was sunkissed and looked like he had come back from a workout as his hair stuck to his forehead and he sported a white tank top and basketball shorts. She mentally noted that he was cute but the look on his face made her decide that he was too smug and kind of a dick.

"If you're done checking me out," He said with a smirk on his face. It made her flush and narrow her eyes as she crossed her arms across her chest. "I asked who you were and what you're doing in my house?"

"I wasn't checking you out," Lucy sputtered, trying to hide her blush. "I was just coming out of the bathroom and you ran into me."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"I'm here with my mom and dad, I don't really know."

He was quiet, observing her in a way she felt a shiver run down her spine. She could feel his eyes rake up every inch of her body and she hugged herself, avoiding his eyes as she cleared her throat once more, afraid her voice would fail her if she didn't. "Who are you?"

"I asked you first."

"My name is Lucy." She ignored his gruffness and pouted.

"Nice to meet ya, Luigi, I'm Natsu."

Lucy craned her neck to give this guy a scrunched up look, offended he called her something so absurd as Luigi and she huffed in annoyance. "It's Lucy! Lucy. Not Luigi."

"Alright, weirdo."

"I am not weird!" Lucy cried out, looking at him in disbelief. "You have no room to talk! You have pink hair!"

"It's salmon." He practically hissed out and she matched the glare he shot her way. "You're the one ramming into people and then checking them out in their own home."

"You ran into me!" She argued, feeling that irritation bubble in her chest. "And I wasn't checking you out!"

He snorted. "Yeah, alright, Luigi."

"It's Lucy!" Lucy stomped her foot in irritation and groaned. "I'm a guest! Shouldn't you be nice to me?"

"I don't ever remember a rule saying I have to be nice to guests. And you're not my guest, I don't even know who the hell you are."

"I told you I came with my parents!"

"And I don't care." He waved her off, walking around her huffing figure.

"Ugh, you're such a dick!"

"And you're a bitch."

"Excuse me?!" Lucy practically screeched as he turned to smirk at her. "You don't even know me!"

"I know enough," he was eating off her energy and he kind of liked how she reacted as she stomped her foot on the ground like a child.

"Don't think that I can't hurt you because I'm shorter and a girl." Lucy growled, feeling the need to kick him in the face.

"I would like to see you try." He replied smugly, the annoying smirk growing on his face and Lucy didn't hesitate to shoot her leg out and kick him right in the shin. Lucy smiled when he yelped out in pain and bent down to grab the place she had kicked. "Goddamn it, why'd you kick me?" He hissed out and now it was her turn to be smug.

"You said you wanted to see." She shrugged.

"I didn't think you'd do it."

"Well I did."

Natsu stood up again glaring at her. "You think you're so smart?"

"I definitely know I'm smarter than you."

"Why you—!"

Lucy kicked her leg out to hit him in the same place and he cursed out loud, grabbing his shin. "Fuckin' bitch!"

Lucy stuck her tongue out and he watched her walk away and he couldn't help but watch how her hips swayed with her steps. He limped towards his room to shower and get dressed for this stupid meeting his parents told him about and he was growling with anger when he remembered that they were to bring their daughter along for whatever reason.

If that's their daughter, Natsu thought to himself as he dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, rubbing his sore throbbing shin in the process.

He walked down to the sunroom where he heard chatter, seeing his parents in there talking with the other family that looked like that blonde. His eyes landed on the innocent looking one who sat on the couch, sipping tea and giggling like the good girl she thought she was and when her eyes met his, a wicked smile appeared on his lips.

Here we fucking go…

"Natsu, honey!" Grandine smiled widely when she saw her son approach. "Come sit!"

"Where'd you run off to?" Igneel asked, looking at Natsu who took a seat beside him.

"I shot some hoops."

"Oh, a basketball player?" Layla had that same smile Lucy had and he decided he liked it on her so much more than her bitch of a daughter.

"Sort of." Natsu shrugged, reaching for the snacks on the table.

"Anyways, Lucy this is Natsu." Layla said, making the attention turn to her. The older blonde motioned towards Natsu back to her daughter, her smile growing wider as she waited for some sort of reaction from anyone.

"Oh I know." Lucy smiled looking at Natsu, crossing her leg over her knee to look at him smugly. Natsu glared at her and leaned against the couch, obviously fuming.

"You do?" Layla seemed surprised as she looked at Grandine back to her daughter.

"Yup," Lucy placed her teacup down. "We met on my way back from the bathroom."

"I see," Her mother smiled once more. "Isn't he handsome?" She cooed and Lucy had to stifle a giggle.

Natsu shot her a glare as she smiled widely. "So handsome, mom. Almost makes you want to hug him to death."

Natsu leaned forward as he put his elbows on his knees, gritting his teeth with an angry smirk pulled onto his face. "Not as cute as you, Lucy."

Lucy threw him a look of disgust and his smirk just widened.

"So cute I just want to keep you." Natsu grinned.

And torture her.

"Well then what we're going to say makes this much easier." Grandine had spoken up, Natsu and Lucy looked over at the woman in confusion, eager to hear what she had to say. "You two are going to get married!"

Natsu and Lucy were quick to get on their feet, screams of confusion and fear rushing through their voices.

"What!"

"Now you two, before we go any further—"

"Mom! I'm not going to marry her!" Natsu turned to look at his mom in disbelief, cutting her off mid-sentence.

"I don't even know him!" Lucy was shouting at her parents as he was screaming at his own.

"Lucy—"

"Natsu—"

"I'm not going to marry this idiot!" They were pointing right at each other and they both shared a heated glare. "Who are you calling an idiot?!" They shouted at one another, voices in perfect harmony. "Stop saying what I'm saying!"

Grandine leaned over to Igneel, whispering as she watched the couple bicker. "This is going super well."

"Dad!" Natsu turned to look at the red-haired man, said businessman looking over in nervousness. "I am not marrying her! Call this off!"

"Now Natsu—" Grandine tried to say but merely flinched when Natsu's voice got louder.

"This is crazy!"

"Yeah!" Lucy agreed, turning to look at her parents in slight sadness and betrayal. "How could you guys?!"

"Lucy—" Jude looked hurt at his daughter's expression.

"Maybe it's because you don't know each other!" Layla was quick to shout to catch everyone's attention. The room had come to a standstill, silence absorbing the once shouting match between the pair. "Why don't you get to know one another? Then maybe we can discuss this?" She said in almost a plea and it was as if they were considering it, it was still quiet.

"Great idea, Layla," Jude spoke up to support his wife, leaning forward to place a hand on her shoulder and offer an awkward smile. "Why don't you two stop this bickering and just go with the flow! Get to know each other. Have some fun."

"You two should go for a walk in the garden!" Grandine suggested, wide eyes and smile as she nudged her husband beside her.

Igneel was quick to sit up, trying to hide his scowl that was directed at his wife. "Yes, Natsu, why don't you show Lucy around the garden?"

"Really?" Natsu sounded defeated.

Layla grabbed her daughter's hand and caught her eye, a plea and a pout forming on her face. Lucy cringed, knowing her mom had her powerful ways to creep into her soft spot. Her eyes flickered to her dads face where he had a look that was between a plea and discomfort. Like he was holding in a fart or something and she groaned, throwing her head back while she stomped her foot on the ground.

"Fine!" Lucy now had a pout on her lips, a small blush painting her cheeks.

Natsu twisted his head to look at the younger blonde, gawking at her as if she said something offensive and he was looking around the room in disbelief. "I can't believe this."

"It's just a walk around the garden." Grandine glared at her son and Natsu returned it. "Take her to see the garden, Natsu."

"Mom—"

"The garden. Natsu." Her voice came out harsher and Natsu threw his arms up in the air, stomping over to the doorway to turn and cross his arms across his chest.

"Come on," He practically hissed and he was stomping away once more as Lucy looked at the adults around her. There was a mixture of emotions passing through each face. Igneel with a surprised yet pleased look while his wife looked at her with such a bright smile. Her mom looked just like Natsu's mom did, bright and giddy while her father looked a bit concerned. He didn't try to hide the awkwardness beside his smile as he ushered her to go follow the pink-haired one and Lucy reluctantly followed with a stomp of her own.

She came into the foyer and was lost for a minute, seeing multiple doorways but no Natsu for her to follow. She felt annoyance build in her chest and she let out an exasperated sigh. "Where the hell did you go?"

"Over here." His grunt of a response came from the right doorway and she followed his voice to come down a hallway and she saw him leaning against the wall. He left without waiting for her to catch up and she let out a soft insult as she picked up the pace. After playing a game of chase, she came into a room where large floor to ceiling windows made a wall and she saw the beautiful garden on the other side. She didn't even care about the male as she brushed past him, walking right up to the abundant garden to caress a leaf and lean in to sniff.

Natsu watched her in silence, studying her movement while he also took the chance to really look at her. Her hair was long but bright like the sun, falling off her shoulders like little rays. He swore he saw the flowers leaning into her. Wide brown eyes that twinkle when she finds something she likes and such a cute button nose to sit on her pale face. Lips full and pink, parting so slightly when she sees a blooming flower. She had a set of racks to put a lot of women to shame and hips wide with pride.

Natsu decided that he liked her this way. Quiet.

"I'm not marrying you." He spoke up, making her turn to look at him. "I don't like you."

"The feelings are mutual, asshole." Lucy snapped back, returning her attention to the blooming lily.

"Then tell your parents."

"I will. You tell your parents. Your mom is the one who brought it up."

"When my mom has her mind set on something she's not easy to fold. You need to talk to your parents first."

"I said I will." Lucy turned to glare at him, annoyed that he was disrupting her time in the garden.

The two were silent once more, Natsu lingering awkwardly beside her while Lucy tried her best to ignore the burning gaze of the one behind her. She didn't even know why she was entertaining this entire thing when this guy was burning holes into her. She would have most definitely burst into flames if he kept this up.

She felt a shiver run down her spine and she turned to look at the one who shamelessly stared at her like she was the Mona Lisa. "Could you stop staring at me? It's creepy."

"How old are you?" He ignored her.

"What?" It came out in a snippy way and she saw how he took another step forward.

"I asked how old you are."

"Why?" She took a step away from him, guarded.

"I thought we were supposed to get to know each other."

"If we were to marry," her lips twisted in an unpleasant way. "But we're not so."

"It's just a fucking question." He rolled his eyes.

"Twenty." She snapped. "And you?"

"Also twenty."

Another silence lingered between them and Natsu seemed he had enough as he turned around to start walking away.

"Hey! Where are you going?!" She asked, a bit worried as she didn't really know her way around this home.

"Back inside."

Lucy just wanted to stomp her heels into his face and scream into the world, quickly following behind him so she didn't end up lost in this maze. She was utterly stunned and disgusted by the attitude on this one. He was so rude and she hadn't met anyone who was this much of an asshole. His parents raised a selfish prick and there was nobody else to blame but his golden pedestal he was brought up in and she cursed his luck for making such a handsome guy some rich asshole. Nobody was going to marry someone like him, nonetheless fall in love. How can anybody love this guy?

Coming back into the room where their parents were chatting excitedly, Lucy stopped right behind Natsu who stood in the middle of the room to catch their attention.

"I refuse to marry her."

A soft gasp flew out of Layla's lips and Grandine looked as if she could murder someone. Igneel slapped his hand against his forehead and Jude was sighing, shaking his head back and forth.

"I also am not comfortable being Natsu's bride," Lucy piped up to support the idea. "I just don't believe we're comparable and I would prefer to marry someone I love."

"Sorry, sweetie," Layla spoke up to have the attention turn to her. "But it's already been decided."

"Don't I have my own freedom to marry whoever I want?"

"Not quite," Jude cringed slightly at the look Lucy threw at him. "You see, the Dragneel's and us had arranged a marriage for you two before you were even born. We have an official document and a contract with arrangements benefitting both of our businesses."

"I thought you guys were already partners?"

"Yes," Grandine now said, making them turn to look at her. "But with the merger of one's families and conjoining lawfully, it becomes more than just benefits of partnership. Legally, we become family so it isn't seen so much as a partnership but more of an ownership."

"So you're doing this to just benefit yourselves." Natsu finally spoke up, voice hard and sharp.

"Now, Natsu," Igneel stood up to place his hand on his shoulder but he immediately shrugged it off. "This isn't entirely about business."

"You just said—"

"I know what was just said," Igneel cut him off. "We have been very good friends with the Heartfillia family for many, many years. This is about business in some sense but it is also a dream for us."

"If you guys were such good friends then how come it's my first time ever meeting them?"

"Not true at all," Grandine now stood up, coming over to her son. "You have met the Heartfillia's a number of times when you were young."

Natsu rolled his eyes and he got a scolding from his mother about his habit. "I have never—"

"Natsu, you were away for a lot of the time. Boarding school, overseas work, and whatever else you do on your own. Granted, mom and dad have also been overseas a lot and traveling and the Heartfillia's do a lot on their own as well. It has been difficult to stay in touch and see one another as we grew and had our families," Grandine turned to look over at Jude and Layla who smiled. "But they are family to us. Our dearest friends and we had come to this agreement before any of you two were born and legally, that is what is to happen."

Natsu was silent as he processed the information, looking over to his dad who was giving him a look he knew was't bullshit. He also took in the expression from Lucy's mother and father who looked a bit hopeful in the sense and then back to Lucy who just was blank, almost as if she was in a daze. It made him snort, looking back over at his parents.

"I have a girlfriend."

"No you don't." Igneel scoffed, making Natsu glare at him.

"Yes, I do."

"Natsu, you don't. And I know that for a fact—" Igneel quickly kept talking as he saw his son open his mouth to retort. "Because I overheard your conversation with Gray the other day about your bachelor lifestyle."

"You spied on me?!" Natsu shrieked, mouth ajar. "How could you!"

"I was just walking by, I didn't mean to," he rolled his eyes and Natsu now knew where he got it from. "You're going to marry Lucy and you don't have a say in it."

"You can't make me." Natsu stood up straighter to square up with his father who instantly straightened himself as well.

The two were glaring at one another, trying to look bigger than the other as if lightning was crackling between them.

"Oh yeah?"

—X—

Being tossed into a room, Lucy squealed as she stumbled and fell on the floor with Natsu being shoved in right beside her. The two turned to look at the doorway where Igneel had a shit-eating grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye before he slammed the door shut in their faces. They heard his muffled laughter and Natsu was right at the door, jiggling the knob and pounding on it as curses flew out of his mouth.

Lucy could only pull her knees up and bury her face in them, a whine coming out of her lips. "Why me?!"

Seeing how there were French doors that lead to the balcony, Lucy gasped and stood up, rushing over to see if they could maybe climb down. While Natsu was busy trying to unlock the door from the other side, she flung open the doors to walk out. She peered over the edge and instantly felt dizzy, swaying as she caught herself on the edge as she shuddered.

Natsu had come out to the balcony and for a second, he looked worried. "Are you good? You look pale."

"T—Too high up.."

"What?"

Lucy pointed towards the balcony and Natsu went towards it, looking down to see they were all the way up on the third floor.

Natsu couldn't help but think she was cute and he scoffed, turning to see her with a hand over her mouth. "You're afraid of heights?"

"And the dark, and lightning, and clowns, and ghosts.."

"Damn," he could feel the corners of his lips turning up. "You're a baby."

"It's called being a girl, thank you very much."

Natsu snorted once more and shook his head. "I know a girl who isn't afraid of anything. She's one scary bitch."

"Who is she?" Lucy felt grateful he was distracting her from their dizziness as she felt the need to keep talking.

"Her name is Erza. She's like a monster. Can destroy a whole town if provoked."

Lucy giggled slightly and Natsu perked up at this, seeing how she was shaking her head back and forth. "I don't believe you."

"You should." He said, making her look at him. He had a smirk pull up to his lips right after. "I'm going to be your husband soon." Lucy stopped laughing as her face heated up. Her cheeks burned a healthy pink and Natsu grinned, satisfied at the reaction he received. "You even have a cute side to you. How adorable."

"S—Shut up!"

Natsu snickered at her dismay and looked out to the horizon, a small sigh flying out of his lips as the sun was starting to go down. "I wonder how long we have to stay here."

"I hope it's not too long. I have a life to live!" Lucy shouted going back inside to see if she could find an escape route.

Natsu rolled his eyes and followed her in. "I had plans to meet up with my friends but I'm stuck here with you."

"It's not like we had much of a choice. I would have much preferred to do anything else but be here with someone like you."

"And what could you possibly be doing?"

"Not looking at your ugly face."

Natsu glared at her and Lucy smiled mockingly. "You sure know how to piss someone off."

"Good, my job here is done."

He watched how she struggled to yank on the door and walk around the room to find something to escape through and after a moment of her groaning and sighing to herself, she came over to the bed and plopped herself on it, a deep frown on her face. "This sucks." She murmured before she fell back on the bed.

Silence ticked by the couple and Natsu eventually found purchase in the chair in the corner, facing the woman who continued to lay motionless on the bed. "Any hobbies?"

"What?" Her voice came out harsh.

"Any hobbies." He repeated a bit louder this time.

Lucy sat up on her elbows to look at him with a confused expression, almost aggressive as he stared right back. "I'm not having this conversation with you."

"Don't you think I should get to know my wife?"

"I am not your wife nor will I ever be." Lucy hissed but the blush on her cheeks grew. "So I'm not going to play twenty-one questions with you."

"It'll pass time." He shrugged. "And think about it, once we get out of this room and they ask we could play nice in their favor and tell them how we know these things about each other."

"And how do you expect to get past the entire arranged marriage problem?"

"They can't really force us," Natsu scoffed, crossing his arms. "It's not like we have to sign the damn paper or show up to the altar. So I'll entertain the ideas and let them have peace till I really give it to them."

"Do you not care about your family business?"

"Not really," Natsu admitted, leaning back into the chair. "I'm more into chemical engineering and freelancing. I don't really care about building trains and transportation bullshit, that's more of my dad's forte. And I don't care to take over this business, too many problems and stress."

"But it's your job as the heir—"

"So you'd take over your family's business just because you're the heiress to their fortune? There's nothing else you want to do?" Natsu cut her off, making her shut her mouth and look at him.

She had now sat up, sitting on the edge of the bed as she faced the pink-haired lad in front of her and she was feeling cornered all of a sudden. "I—I mean… I—" Lucy tried to speak but she was stammering as if she was being questioned for murder. "It's our job."

"That's your only argument?" He snorted.

Lucy looked taken back, almost insulted. "How could you say that when our parents worked so hard for this?"

"Did I ever say I wanted this?"

"You're being selfish—"

"Okay, then let's get married."

Lucy was taken back by the proposal as she stared wide-eyed at the furious heir.

"What?"

"You said it." He stated harshly. "You said it's our job to support and be a part of this business and you heard them out there. They said this marriage is going to be a great benefit to both of our families and since you're so gung ho about being the perfect fucking daughter and heiress—" Lucy made a sour face at his insult. "Then we need to marry."

Lucy was quiet once more, thinking her options through and processing what he had said to her. He looked angry, annoyed even as he stared at her with those sharp eyes of his and it made her a bit nervous.

She was unsure how to respond to even say anything to him that wouldn't validate what he had just said. She did have a duty as the Heartfillia Heiress to do whatever to help benefit and support the family's business. She was taught that one day it'll all go to her and whatever she did would always reflect on them so she was always careful. Always learning. Practically working for her parents her entire life without realizing it as she attends events, galas, meetings, and learning about what goes on. This was the ultimate goal for the Dragneel's and Heartfillia's. It would change so much and benefit them to such a great extent that they could probably be set.

She turned back to look at Natsu and as much as she didn't want to, she did. "Okay, let's get married."