"Forgive me for bringing you along, but I felt like those two needed a moment." Celina apologized once she and Erza were seated in the carriage.

"It's okay, but I've never seen Lucy so flustered before." Erza admitted placing her finger and thumb on her chin as she began to think.

"Really? Never?"

"I've known Lucy for a while, but she's never been like that before. It's almost as if your son bewitched her."

"Well, the two of them sadly haven't seen each other since her mother's funeral. If I could tell you how close they used to be, I think I'd still be underselling it." Celina said as she remembered the first time the two had met, the joy she and Layla had when the two of them immediately hit it off and grew closer as friends as time went on.

"They were that close?"

"Oh yeah. They used to play together, eat together, read together, sleep together, they used to get upset because we wouldn't let them bathe together."

"You know, for someone who comes from such a rich and formal background: I'm surprised to hear you speak like that." Erza blurted out surprising Celina before covering her mouth and bowing her head in embarrassment. "Forgive me, I didn't mean to-"

"It's alright, dear. I don't come from a rich family, so I'm not exactly all formal and proper. I put on the show for guests and colleagues and such, but in my heart I'm still the same little girl who grew up on a small farm in the Fiore countryside." Celina explained resting her arm on the window and looking out at the countryside. "Would you like to hear the story of how I met my husband? It'll help pass the time." Celina offered making Erza smile and nod excitedly, she might be the wizard most of her guild respects/fears: but she's still a sucker for love and romance. "Alright then. I was around 16 when I was with my grandmother selling some of our crops at the weekly Farmer's market, when all of a sudden this boy came up to us and offered to buy everything we were selling. I was a little wary of his intentions so I sparked up a conversation to see what he wanted them for: if he was another farmer to plant some of our crops for himself, if he was a cook who needed the ingredients immediately, or he was just someone trying to pull a sick joke and get our hopes up."

"What did he want them for?"

"He just wanted to buy them to buy them. He said he had a lot of mouths to feed and he saw how good and fresh what we were selling were and wanted to buy them. So we sold them to him, and then the next week the same story. And then the next week. And the next week. Eventually after about a month and a half and the Harvest coming to an end, I asked him the next time I saw him if he was feeding a village with how much he bought from us." Celina smiled as she looked down at the wedding band and spun it around using her thumb. "He said the first time was to help his cook buy ingredients for the staff, the rest of the times he just wanted an excuse to see me. Then he asked me if I was available to go out for dinner that night."

"And you agreed?" Erza leaned forward, excitement evident in her expression as she felt like she knew where the story was going.

"Nope." Erza fell back in her seat and Celina laughed at her reaction. "I didn't know the guy. Sure he was our best customer, but I wasn't going to go out with some smooth talker who I had seen for at most maybe 20 minutes over the span of a month. So then he asked me what my name was, and of course to at least be courteous I told him. Man, big mistake. He found out where my family lived and started sending me gifts like flowers and new tools to help us with our farming. It was a little creepy if I'm being honest with you. Then one day when I was at my limit with everything, I found him at the train station reading. When I confronted him about everything he had done, he told me it was just to thank us for the help our little farm had done. Apparently his cook had a falling out with their food supplier, something about sleeping with the guy's wife behind his back, and their kitchen was running low on ingredients to also be able to feed their staff as well. So every single time he had come to town, he was using his own money to buy food for his staff and the food we sold him helped the most so they would have more than just bread and meat. And of course he did admit that he had fallen for me the moment he laid his eyes on me, but he wasn't going to pursue me if I wasn't interested."

"And then what happened?"

'Well, I will admit he did convince me a little when I saw how nice of a guy he seemed. So I gave him a chance and agreed to the dinner I turned down weeks before. Then one dinner became two, then eventually I was meeting his family and we were married with Ryu on the way after about three years. Lyle had a way of being generous to the point it seemed excessive, but my husband's heart was always in the right place and he always held a deep love and admiration for the people around him. When he wanted to start a business, he had to distance himself from his family to be able to grow without their name's influence. That was how we met Jude and Layla, Lucy's parents, in the Love and Lucky merchant guild."

"And this business is where your son is right now?"

"My husband had an office in the village to be able to do the easier paperwork here, if Ryu's there then we're just going to grab him and come back home."

"So...how have you been, Ace? Or do you stick to Asemu now?" Lucy asked, mentally slapping herself as she had heard Fabia refer to Ace by his nickname. After agreeing to his offer, the two began to walk around the house and were currently walking through the garden Celina took care of herself.

"I mean, I go by Ace to people I'm close to. Everyone else just calls me Asemu."

"I'm really sorry about your dad...if I knew, I would've come so much sooner." Lucy took a deep breath and apologized, making Ace sigh and shove his hands into his pockets again.

"I should apologize first, considering I punched your dad one of the last times I saw him." Ace admitted making Lucy look at him confused. "He came by one day, I'd like to say maybe eight-ish years ago, to ask my dad for some help to save the Heartfilia Konzern. Then he started going on about how he wanted you to marry the son of the Junelle family and you refused and even threatened him the next time he went after your guild. The bad thing is that he and my father were drinking so he started saying things I know that he didn't mean, but when he said something that crossed the line...next thing I knew your dad was on the floor and my brothers were holding me back from punching him more."

"I don't know if I should be mad or flattered...what happened then?"

"I yelled at him that he had no right to sit there and talk about you the way he was. He was the one who tried to sell you off and even came to us to fix his mess, while you were the one who didn't need his money or anything to live your life, and looks like I was right after all these years." Ace explained as the two kept walking, with Lucy now conflicted at how to feel about his story.

"You said that was one of the last times...when were the others?"

"Not too long after that day, he showed up looking like the opposite of how I always knew him."

"Messy? Bushy beard? Completely broken?"

"Yeah. I guess he came to you too?"

"He wanted to borrow some money to get into the Love and Lucky guild in Acalypha, but sadly I didn't have that kind of money at the time."

"That explains it." Ace chuckled slightly confusing Lucy further so he began to explain himself. "Your dad came and asked my dad for the money. My dad gave it to him and while your dad promised to pay him back, he just told him that it was a gift between friends and an apology for me punching him that day. Then before he left he told me that I should see you one day, that I'd be happy to see the woman you'd grown into. He came by every couple of months after getting his business going again, but sometimes I was just busy or wasn't home so I didn't get to see him most of the time." Ace explained as now they had left the house and walking in an open plain.

"And the last time you saw him?"

"It was the month before he passed away. He came by to visit for my dad's birthday and he looked back to his former self. Then he pulled me aside and told me about how you and your friends had gone missing in 784. I have to admit I didn't take the news too well, but he assured me that he knew that you were alive and well. He told me how he put money aside to cover the rent you missed every month you were gone and gifts for every of your birthdays that had passed. I tried to apologize for punching him because I never did, but he promised me he had forgiven me immediately and thanked me for still caring so much even after so many years. When he died, we held a service for him and everything here because he was like family to us." Ace finished his story and stopped walking when he heard Lucy sniffling. He turned his head and his eyes widened seeing Lucy's eyes closed with tears streaming down her face. "Lucy I didn't mean-"

"Thank you." Lucy let out in between sobs but she opened her eyes and gave Ace a big smile. "I didn't get to see him at all after that day, but to know how much you all still took care of him and helped him after...thank you." Ace smiled and a thought crossed his mind making him extend his hand.

"Come with me."

"What?"

"Come with me, or you can chase after me. The choice is yours." Ace repeated himself making Lucy hesitantly grab his hand. Once her hand was in his, Ace took off running and Lucy smiled as she did her best to keep up with him. As they ran, the two laughed as they remembered how they would run just like this when they were kids. Once they ran into a nearby forest, Lucy smiled as she realized where they were headed. She let go of his hand and started running ahead of him, making Ace laugh even more as he began to pick up the pace. "Hey!"

"Here we are." Celina said as she and Erza arrived to a small blue building in Dahlia Village that at first glance, could've been anything since it had nothing that said it was Lyle's office. Once the two exited the carriage, Celina's ring began to shine and a light blue magic circle appeared on the door.

"Magic?"

"Security measures. It's Spatial magic." Celina explained as she opened the door, now revealing a large office behind it. "My husband had a lot of free time and this office is in its own little pocket dimension that can only be accessed by the caster or whoever has one of these Lacrimas to be able to enter. Otherwise you'd just enter a basically empty building with only a table and a few chairs inside of it." Celina explained before the two noticed a man with dark blonde hair sitting at a desk in the middle of the office with a large stack of papers in front of him. "Ryu? Sweetheart, it's time to go home."

"Huh? What time is it?" Ryu said looking up to see his mother and the unfamiliar woman standing next to her. "Mom, I'm so sorry I swear I only came just to sign some papers. Did I miss the rehearsal dinner?"

"Sweetheart, it's the afternoon. But you shouldn't be cooped up in here all day."

"I know, I just wanted to be here for half an hour and go home." Ryu groaned running his hands through his hair and pushing it back.

"That's okay. Just come on, let's get a move on." Celina said before remembering something important. "Honey, this is Erza Scarlet. She's a guest in our home and she'll be here for Fabia's wedding."

"Oh, hello. Sorry for not introducing myself sooner, had a lot to do you know." Ryu said standing up and walking over to shake Erza's hand. "Friend of my sister?"

"Friend of Lucy, actually." Erza said making Ryu chuckle before it set in what she had just said.

"Lucy? As in Little Lucy? She's here?" Ryu asked making his mother nod. "Wow...I hope Asemu doesn't tell her he punched her dad."

"I'm sorry, but Little Lucy?" Erza asked stifling a laugh at Lucy's nickname.

"Oh yeah. She was a super tiny kid. Bit of a brat too, had a hell of a temper. Is she any calmer?"

"Not in the slightest." Erza said making Ryu laugh and Celina couldn't help but smile at the sight in front of her. "I've seen her kick people's heads into a wall just for being in her apartment."

"Oh so she's worse now?"

"Come, time to head home." Celina hesitantly stopped the two as she knew they had to return as quickly as possible.

"This place is still the same, just smaller than I remember." Lucy said as she and Ace arrived at a river with a small waterfall nearby.

"I come here often, when I just wanna cool down or clear my head. The water's always the perfect temperature and it's so quiet, it's like being in another world." Ace said as they walked over to the river bank and sat down.

"Remember the ear infection you got because we came here swimming one day and you got water stuck in your ear?" Lucy asked making Ace groan and rub his right ear.

"Don't remind me. My ear still aches from that sometimes." Ace said as he and Lucy leaned back to soak in the sun's rays.

"You said the water is always perfect, soooo let me be the judge of that." Lucy said leaning forward and taking off her boots. Once they were off, she placed her feet in the water and let out a loud relaxed sigh as the cool water began to soothe her aching feet. "Okay you were right." Ace chuckled at the sight in front of him and nodded. "So...Mister Asemu, your butler tells me you and Ryu are in charge of the business now?"

"It's such a hassle. One day it's meetings, the next is paperwork, then more meetings, then we're stuck on a train visiting some of dad's partners." Ace groaned burying his face in his hands.

"If it's such a hassle, why do you do it?"

"Because someone has to keep things running now, and I have to help Ryu do that. The past month has been a bunch of sleepless nights, an excessive amount of coffee, and just a bunch of conversations we barely understand." Ace admitted as Lucy remembered what Bastion told her earlier in the day. An idea crossed her mind and she leaned forward, filling her right hand with water from the river. She then threw that water in Ace's direction, soaking his hands and shirt. "Hey!"

"Take it easy. You and Ryu don't have to do anything, okay? If it's too much then don't force yourself to do something you don't want to." Lucy said standing up and placing her hands on her sides. "Did your dad ask you two to do that?"

"No but-"

"Your dad had something else planned, and he knew you two weren't businessmen. Find your own path, like I did, and you'll be happy with yourself." Once Lucy was done with her little pep talk, Ace sighed and stood up. "Once you know what you want in life, don't be afraid to take it. It's never too late to find out what you want." Lucy said before noticing the blue sky was beginning to become orange. "We should hurry back, tonight is the rehearsal after all." Lucy sighed and sat down quickly putting her boots back on. "I know I have no reason to talk like this after so long, but you shouldn't feel like this is something you should do if you don't like it. Find what you like and go for it." Lucy said as she hopped back on to her feet and tried to walk past Ace. But when she did, she accidentally tripped on a rock and Ace quickly reached out to grab her before she fell, catching her in his arms as her face fell into his chest. After what seemed like an eternity to them: Lucy regained her composure and walked past Ace, keeping her head down to hide the blush now forming on her cheeks.

"Find what I like huh?" Ace smiled as he began to follow her.

"So, you and Little Lucy are back together?" Ryu asked as he walked into Ace's room, icing down the large slap mark he currently had on his left cheek now thanks to Fabia. Now he knew to never stress out a bride the day before her wedding again. "How is she?"

"She's...older." Ace said as he walked out of his bathroom, wearing a robe and using a smaller towel to dry his hair.

"That's all you have to say? Older?" Ryu asked taking the ice pack off his face, only to immediately put it back when it began to sting again.

"Older. Taller." Ace replied as he couldn't get the image of Lucy out of his head. Her long blonde hair, her chocolate brown eyes, her smile, her soft voice and contagious laughter. Why was she so different in his eyes all of a sudden? He used to see her like his best friend, maybe even like another sister. Now the sight of her left him at a loss for words and she was stuck in his head.

"-semu. Asemu!" Ace shook his head snapping out of his trance hearing his brother call out to him. "Bro, you okay?"

"Yeah, sorry. Just lost in thought for a second." Ace said as he walked into his closet to start getting dressed. "Our sister's getting married, our family's gonna change. Keith is so focused on his new teaching job that he's barely around. It's just you and me now, big brother."

"You, me, and dad's favorite coffee maker in the office." Ryu joked as he took the ice pack off again. "You know you don't have to work with me in the company, right?"

"What was that?"

"I said, you don't have to work with me. I can handle things myself. You can go live your life and be happy." Ryu said making Ace walk out of his closet wearing black dress pants and a pale blue dress shirt.

"Yeah, I'm not gonna do that. This is a lot for both of us and I can't imagine how it'd be for just you." Ace said as he fixed the collar of his shirt and tightened his belt. "We're in this together, right?"

"Ace, I've got this."

"No you don't. Neither of us do."

"But this is Dad's legacy, this is what I have to do as the oldest. I have to take on his responsibilities and look over the company and our family." Ryu said making Ace sigh and place his hands on his brother's shoulders.

"We are a family. You, me, Mom, Keith, Fabia. We are the family, and we all look after one another. We'll worry about the company after the wedding, for now go get dressed before she messes up the other cheek too." Ace said making Ryu chuckle and walk towards the door. Before he left, he turned around and pointed at his little brother.

"You didn't tell her you punched Jude right?"

"Get dressed!" Ace yelled making Ryu roll his eyes and walk out.

"Idiot." Ryu chuckled leaving Ace alone to finish getting dressed. Once he was done brushing his hair and putting on his shoes, he heard a knock at the door and he chuckled as he knew it could only be one person. "Hey Lucy, you can come in."

"How'd you know it was me?" Lucy asked opening the door and walking inside.

"My family doesn't know the concept of knocking." Ace said before looking at how she was dressed. She was wearing a yellow dress with a blue star on the side of it that stopped right above her ankles and she had tied her hair on the side with a blue ribbon. "You look...great."

"Why the hesitation?"

"I...don't know." Ace admitted walking over to her. "What's up?"

"I'm a little nervous. I feel out of place here."

"How so?"

"I gave up this life years ago, I don't exactly know if I can really handle seeing people my dad used to know and handle all the questions I'm bound to get." Lucy admitted making Ace chuckle and place his hands on her shoulders.

"Then just be with me the whole time. If things get uncomfortable then we'll just get away from them." Ace said making Lucy smile and nod.

"Okay then. We should go then, the party's starting." Lucy said turning around and heading towards the door. Ace nodded and grabbed a black suit jacket, swiftly putting it on as he and Lucy left his room.

Once the two reached the backyard, Lucy's eyes widened as she saw the amount of people close to their age walking around, all dressed up nicely for the rehearsal dinner.

"You had nothing to worry about, a lot of the guest list is their younger friends and family. Only maybe ten or so people used to work with our fathers." Ace whispered in her ear making Lucy playfully slap his chest.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't think it'd be such a big deal." Ace said making Lucy slap his chest again before hearing heels clacking behind them.

"There you are." The two turned around to see Erza walking up to them wearing a crimson dress with matching gloves that covered her forearms. "I was wondering where you went."

"I went to go find Ace. Oh wait you two never officially met! Ace this is my best friend from my guild hall, Erza. Erza this is Asemu, the first friend I ever truly had." Lucy said introducing the two.

"Pleasure to meet you." Erza said extending her hand to Ace who happily shook it.

"Pleasure's all mine."

"She told me a lot about you." Erza said as the three of them made their way towards the party.

"She did huh?" Ace asked turning his attention to Lucy who blushed and began to laugh sheepishly.

"Oh yes, most of our trip here was her telling me all these stories about you." Erza said making Ace raise his eyebrows while Lucy turned away from him even more.

"I see." Ace said as they stopped at the table where the drinks were and handed them each glasses of wine. "Then to make it fair, tell me all about her. Lucy didn't tell me much about her life with your guild." Ace said making Erza chuckle and nod.

"She's wonderful. She might be rough around the edges, sometimes a bit overdramatic, but I'd put my life in her hands and I know Natsu and Gray feel the same." Erza said as the last part caught Ace's attention.

"Natsu? Gray?"

"Yes they're part of our team. There's also Wendy, Carla, and Happy. But aside from them, the whole guild is one big family."

"Wow, I didn't realize you had such great friends." Ace said making Lucy smile and nod.

"Excuse me, mind if I join in?" The three turned to see Ryu walk up wearing an outfit similar to Ace's except he was wearing a dark red shirt underneath his jacket. "Little Lucy, as I live and breathe. Damn you really grew." Ryu said admiring Lucy's appearance only for Ace to nudge his side. "In a good way. I'm not going to disrespect our guest." Ryu said as he grabbed a glass of wine for himself. "So what were you guys talking about?"

"Erza was telling me about Lucy's life at their guild hall."

"Not just that, she's an award-winning author too." Erza added making the two spit out their drinks back into their cups and stare at Lucy.

"Y-Yeah...I wrote a book based off of the adventures I had and it became a best seller." Lucy said taking a sip of her wine.

"How did we not know about this?" Ace asked turning to his older brother.

"Don't look at me, last book I read was ten years ago." Ryu replied before noticing Keith walking nearby. "Hey Keith! Did you know Lucy was an author?!"

"Yes I did. I quite enjoyed her novel myself." Keith said before raising a hand and waving to Lucy who sheepishly waved back.

"He's a big nerd, it's not surprising he knew." Ace shrugged before smiling at Lucy. "I'm proud of you."

"Thanks A-"

"Lucy Heartfilia, as I live and breathe!" The group turned around to see an older short and portly man wearing a gold crown with two white curls on each side of his head and small oval glasses wearing a dark suit that looked like it was struggling to stay closed. Lucy shuddered as she recognized the man as the person who not only took her family's estate but as the man her father had wanted her to marry so many years ago. "I never expected to see my ex-fiancee here of all places, but surely this is the universe saying we're meant to be together."

"Duke Junelle, I'd love to say it's a pleasure to see you but I'm not drunk enough yet." Ryu said making the older man laugh.

"Ohoho Ryu, how I love that sense of humor. But my goodness you surely grew into such a beautiful woman Lucy. Oh yes, how beautiful indeed." Duke Junelle said as he studied Lucy's body carefully. "You know, since I took the Konzern from your father, I'm sure you'd like to have it back."

"No not really." Lucy said as Erza and Ace could feel how uncomfortable she was feeling and proceeded to place themselves between the two.

"Oh I'm sure that's a lie. I'm still single and I'm sure you are as well, if you'd like everything that failure of a father of yours owned back you could just agree to marry me."

"Listen, Lucy said she's not interested in-"

"And who is this vixen? Oh yes she can come as well, I'd like to have a concubine for when you can't satisfy my needs." Duke Junelle said making Erza grit her teeth and clench her fists.

"Why you-"

"Duke Junelle, I think it'd be best if you went somewhere else right now." Ace said stepping in front of Erza and now towering over Duke Junelle who couldn't help but laugh in his face.

"Little Asemu. You think I'm intimidated by you? This is a matter from several years ago I'd like to settle, I was promised that she would marry me and her father was a man of his word."

"Yeah and he was glad you didn't marry her. I don't care how powerful or rich you are, you're in my home and if you don't respect our wishes then you can either go somewhere else or leave."

"Oh you brat, I can leave all of you the same way I left her father. You really want to test my patience?"

"Would you like to test mine?" Duke Junelle froze at the new voice and turned to see Celina walking over with a sly grin on her face.

"L-Lady Celina, how are you this lovely evening? Oh and congratulations on your daughter's wedding." Duke Junelle said as he began to sweat profusely from fear.

"You never answered my question Sawarr. You insulted one of my dear guests." Celina said motioning towards Erza. "Threatened my family." Now at Ace then Ryu. "And came to bother my future daughter-in-law. Now where are your manners?" Lucy's eyes widened as Celina walked towards her and grabbed her hand.

"Y-Your what?" Duke Junelle's glasses slipped off of his face and hit the floor from shock.

"Yeah...your what?" Lucy asked as Celina took off her wedding ring and placed it in Lucy's hand.

"When Lucy and Ace were younger, Layla and I used to joke about the two of them marrying one another. And before he passed, Jude proposed an engagement between them and we accepted. Duke Junelle, I'd like you to apologize to Asemu's fiancee and stay away from them for the rest of your time here. Otherwise I'll have to ask you to leave the premises."

"Y-Yes madame. Forgive me Lucy, and forgive me Asemu for being so rude. Now I must be off." Duke Junelle said as he picked up his broken glasses, bowed to the group, and scurried away. Once he was gone, the news began to settle while Celina took both of Lucy's hands in hers.

"I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, I didn't want to tell you this until after the wedding and in a more appropriate atmosphere." Celina said while Ace began to feel nauseous from the shock.

"An arranged marriage? Aunt Celina that was why-"

"This is only if you're willing to do this. I can't force you to marry my son either. We agreed because we hoped you two would reunite one day and maybe it would be possible. But I'm going to cancel the arrangement if this bothers you." Celina interrupted Lucy and let her hands go. Lucy gulped and she looked at Erza who was just as stunned as she was and Ryu had just drank his entire glass of wine. But when she turned her attention to Ace, she couldn't help but feel butterflies in her stomach. They had just reunited and sure he was physically older than her now, but technically they were still the same age. The afternoon they had spent together brought her a sense of joy and comfort that she hadn't felt in so long. She knew about the rumors of her and Natsu, hell she even believed it herself at one point. But at the end of the day: he was her best friend and she'll always love him and be grateful for the memories she had with him. But Ace...she felt different around him. This moment could define the rest of her life, so...what was her answer going to be? Well for now her answer was going to be... "Do you want to talk about it another-"

"Yes." Lucy's answer surprised everyone, but Ace more than anything because now he was sure his soul left his body because he couldn't feel his heartbeat anymore. "Yes, I'll marry Asemu."

"Lucy. Are you sure? Th-This is a really big decision." Erza said raising her hands and struggling to maintain her composure. Lucy smiled and nodded, walking over to Ace with his mother's ring in his hand.

"I don't see why not. A new adventure together, plus if it's going to be anyone: I'd rather it be you." Lucy said as she looked at the ring in her left hand and the Fairy Tail emblem on the back of her right. She smiled and put the ring on her left ring finger, smiling as it was a perfect fit. "Take good care of me."