After another seven hour train ride: the trio arrived at Magnolia early in the morning. After saying a quick good night to Erza who accompanied them to Lucy's apartment building, Lucy and Ace made their way up the stairs to her front door.

"Well, this is my place, make yourself at home." Lucy said as she reached into her pocket and took out the key, unlocking the door and leading her fiance inside. She flicked on the light and Ace looked around the room. It looked to be only that room since her bed was next to the window, but that was fine to him. "Sorry it's not much, this one apartment is like the size of your bedroom."

"Nah, it's fine. We've just got to deal with the sleeping situation." Ace said as he let out a small yawn. Lucy nodded as she was feeling sleepy herself. They napped a bit on the train ride but now it was time to get some real sleep...only problem was: how were they gonna do it when she only had the one bed. "I'll just grab a pillow and blanket and sleep on the floor." Ace suggested, but to Lucy that wasn't going to be ideal. Right now her only solution was going to be:

"Just sleep with me." Lucy suggested pointing at her bed. Sure it wasn't a super big bed, but both of them could fit in it just fine.

"Are you sure?"

"Do you snore?"

"Not unless I'm sick."

"Do you move a lot?"

"Not that I know of."

"Are you a little pervy?" Lucy's question made Ace blush and shake his head. She couldn't help but laugh at how innocent he was. "I'm playing. But it should be fine at least for tonight. Then tomorrow we can go shopping if you're still uncomfortable with this."

"I...guess."

"Alright then. So I'll just go to the bathroom and change, then you can go and do the same." Lucy said as she went to her dresser and took out a pair of pajamas. Then once she was in the bathroom: she took a deep breath as she could feel her heart pounding rapidly because of the situation. She was trying to be bold and confident with this arrangement, considering most of it was her idea in the first place. But to suddenly start living with someone, a guy especially, this was a sudden change for her. But she wasn't going to fret because she had been in worse and more compromising situations with Natsu before, so she can handle this. She quickly changed into her pajamas and made her way out, only to see that Ace had already changed as well and was sitting in her armchair using his Communications Lacrima. "You're quick."

"Hm? Oh yeah, sorry. I decided to change first before letting my mom know we're here and getting ready for bed."

"She's still awake?"

"Surprisingly." Ace laughed as he put his Lacrima away and sat back. Lucy then went to her dresser and pulled out another pillow, placing it on the bed now that it was going to be occupied by two people. "You sure you're okay with this?"

"Ace, it's fine. It's not the first time we've slept together, just that now we're grown adults." Lucy said as she laid down on the bed, laying on the side closer to the window.

"Okay then." Ace said as he turned off the lights and laid down in bed next to her. The two gulped as now they had taken yet another leap regarding their whole arrangement. It was nerve wrecking for Ace who had never been in a situation like this before, and nerve wrecking for Lucy who had never actually slept in a bed like this with another man before either.

"Hey Ace, can I ask you something?" Lucy asked, turning over to face him.

"What's up?" Ace replied as he turned over to face her.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, your bed is really comfy."

"No, I mean...I haven't really taken your own feelings to account with this. Are you really okay with all of this? You keep asking if I am, but are you?" Lucy asked and Ace took a deep breath as he thought about what to say. He had gone along with it, but he had his own reservations about their engagement. But right now, as he looked at her in the moonlight, staring deep into her chocolate brown eyes he only had one response for her.

"Of course I am. If it was anyone else then maybe not, but since it's you Lucy: I'm alright with this."

"I feel the same about you, Asemu. I still see the same person I used to know in your eyes, that's why I'm alright with everything." Lucy said as she placed her hand with the ring on the pillow between them. Ace smiled and placed his hand on hers, grasping it softly as Lucy did the same with his. "Good night."

"Good night."

'What a long day.' Lucy trudged along Strawberry Street heading to her apartment, she had just come back from a job Natsu convinced her to go on. It seemed simple, just scare away some annoying frogs that were bothering some rice farmers. But with Natsu: nothing is as it seems. Not only were the frogs twice their size, she almost got eaten...TWICE. The second time she also took the force of a Fire Dragon's Iron Fist from inside the frog's throat. But the job was over, now she just wanted to go upstairs to take a long bath and relax. But of course one other thing she was looking forward to was right behind the door in front of her. "I'm home." Lucy called out as she opened it.

"Welcome home, Lu." Ace said as he looked up from their table to see his fiancée walking in. It had been two weeks since they had moved in together and now the two were more or less adjusted to life together. The first couple of times Lucy did freak out and try to attack him when she got home and he was there, or when he would enter the house after running some errands and she assumed someone was breaking in. But then she started reminding herself that she didn't live alone anymore and then she started looking forward to seeing him when she would come home from the guild or from her jobs. "How did it go?"

"I hate frogs even more now." Lucy groaned, sitting down in the chair next to Ace. She then began to tell him the entire story and Ace couldn't contain his laughter at everything she told him. "What's so funny?" Lucy asked, puffing her cheeks in annoyance.

"Sorry sorry. Well at least you came home in one piece, that's what matters right?" Ace's reply softened Lucy's expression and she shrugged.

"I guess." Lucy said before grabbing the cup of tea in front of Ace and drinking some. She then noticed that he had multiple stacks of paper as well as a thick binder in front of him, not to mention he was even wearing his reading glasses. "What are you doing?"

"Just going over our books this month. Ryu is still helpless when it comes to this stuff so I'm giving him a hand like he wanted." Ace replied as he grabbed a pen and began to write in the binder. Lucy giggled as she enjoyed seeing him hard at work like this. While she was out going on adventures: Ace was busy at home helping with his family's company and he would even do things such as clean and even cook breakfast and dinner for them as well. It was like having a stay at home husband already, and that didn't seem to bother them one bit.

"Oh thanks for reminding me, I should get the rent money ready." Lucy said as she stood up from the table. The day after Ace came to live with her: Lucy had gone to let her landlady know about the circumstances and she was more than okay with letting Ace live there as well...for another 20,000 Jewels. So now her rent is 100,000 a month, wasn't that lovely?

"Already taken care of." Ace said, surprising Lucy who looked at him confused.

"What do you mean?"

"I paid the rent already? I don't know how clearer that can be." Ace said as Lucy sat back down.

"How did you pay it already?"

"I wrote a check, went to her door, gave her the check, rent is paid this month." Ace replied making Lucy groan. "What is it?"

"Ace I appreciate that, but you have to let me contribute too. I can't let you do that by yourself." Lucy said, surprising Ace who took off his glasses and placed it down on the binder. He crossed his arms and turned his body towards her as a thought crossed his mind.

"So you want to contribute?"

"At least half. I managed to pay my rent before and I can still do it."

"Well then let's compromise."

"Alright then, let's." Lucy said, crossing her arms and sitting back.

"I covered rent this time, so you can handle groceries because frankly we need to go shopping. Then if by next month we're still living here: we'll split the rent and we'll split expenses where it's necessary until we move." Ace's suggestion surprised Lucy and she thought about it for a moment. It wasn't a bad idea, and not to mention Ace was right about this only being until they move to a bigger place. So maybe it wasn't a bad idea.

"Alright then." Lucy extended a hand to Ace who happily shook it to seal the deal.

"So, one question."

"Just one?"

"Yeah. When am I going to meet your friends?" Ace asked, taking Lucy by surprise. They had already been living together for two weeks and no one except for Erza knew about their engagement. Even the home invaders Natsu and Happy hadn't broken in once since they arrived, although she heard Erza had a hand in that. Maybe it was time for them to meet, she had already told him so much about Natsu, Happy, Gray, Juvia, and everyone else and he still had no idea what they looked like.

"W-Well...I hadn't really thought about that." Lucy admitted, scratching her cheek. Not even Levy knew, in fact she was surprised no one even noticed the ring she was wearing now.

"Wooooow. Are you embarrassed by me?" Ace's question shocked Lucy and she jumped out of her seat, leaning forward towards him with anger more than evident in her expression.

"Of course not! How could you even assume that?!"

"Easy, Lu...it was a joke." Ace said, raising his hands defensively.

"How could you make a joke like that? That's not fair at all to say." Lucy said before realizing now her face was only inches away from Ace's. She looked away to the side, hiding a small blush, before going back into her chair. "The time just hasn't been right...but I promise you'll meet them soon."

"That's fine with me. Take your time." Ace said, reaching over and placing his hand on hers. Lucy smiled warmly at him before remembering what she had wanted to do when she got home.

"Alright then, I'm gonna take a well deserved bath and then we can go shopping." Lucy said, standing up and walking over to the bathroom. "Care to join me?"

"The joke got stale last week." Ace called out, rolling his eyes as he started going back to what he was doing. Lucy took the opportunity to mess with him and whistled to get his attention again.

"Who said I was joking?" Lucy winked and closed the door behind her, leaving Ace with his face as red as a tomato as he had no idea how to respond to that.

"Maybe next time we shouldn't shop when we're hungry." Lucy said as she and Ace walked back to their apartment with multiple bags of groceries in their arms. Ace laughed and nodded as they turned the corner and made their way upstairs and back into their apartment. They placed their groceries in the kitchen and the two began to put what they had bought away together, except for some garlic, tomatoes, oil, and pasta that they had bought to make dinner. The good thing about coming from a family with a butler like Bastion: he didn't mind sharing his recipes with anyone who asked. "You need some help?" Lucy asked as Ace took out what he needed to cook with.

"Well, some music would be nice." Lucy nodded at Ace's suggestion and walked over to his collection of Music Lacrima. She then placed it into large grey box and the two began to enjoy the orchestral music beginning to play from it. She then walked over to the large window next to their bed and opened it so that the smell of their dinner cooking wouldn't stay inside the apartment. She then decided to set the table for both of them since their dinner would be ready quickly anyway, and Ace decided that maybe he should try to scare her as revenge for earlier. But once he was behind her with his hands ready to strike: the two's heads snapped up hearing a voice grow louder from behind them...but behind them was their bed and window.

"GET AWAY FROM HER!" The two turned around to see a flash of pink hair jump in through the window and suddenly tackle Ace, pinning him against the floor by his head. "I've got this guy, Lucy! You're going to pay for trying to hurt my friend!" Ace struggled to lift his head to see who suddenly barged into their apartment, but whoever this was was really damn strong because of how hard he was holding his head down.

"It's alright, Lucy! Officer Happy and his rookie Natsu are here to protect you!" Lucy gritted her teeth and clenched her fists as a familiar blue cat with wings flew in and floated in the air with his arms crossed triumphantly as if he had done anything.

"You've got 'til the count of three, pal. You better fight back or else this is gonna get ugly." The man with pink hair and a white scaled scarf growled as he began to tighten his grip on Ace even more. But before he could say anything else, Lucy swiftly kicked him in the head and punched his feline companion away from Ace and helped him up. "Ow! What the heck, Lucy?!"

"I'm going to have to place you under arrest for assaulting an officer..."

"What is wrong with you two?! Do you have no decency to barge into someone's home like that?!" Lucy yelled, holding an angry fist up.

"No not really." Natsu replied before standing up and keeping his attention focused on Ace. "Why are you protecting that guy, Lucy? He was about to attack you."

"No he wasn't! Ace would never do that to me!"

"I was gonna scare her that's all." Ace explained making Lucy turn and softly slap his arm.

"And why were you gonna scare me?"

"Oh come on! Why does he get a slap on the wrist and I get kicked into the next century?!" Natsu yelled before Ace decided to step in between the two to explain things.

"This has all been one big misunderstanding. You must be Natsu, I've heard a lot about you." Ace said walking over and extending a hand to Natsu.

"And who are you?"

"I'm Asemu, one of Lucy's old friends. I'm staying with Lucy for a bit and that's why I was playing around with her." Ace explained and Lucy couldn't help but feel a slight pain in her chest from the explanation he gave Natsu. He wasn't wrong, but he could've also told Natsu the truth. But Natsu on the other hand wasn't buying it and stared at Ace with his arms crossed.

"And why should I believe that's what's happening?" Natsu's question was quickly answered by Lucy's front door swinging open and a familiar scarlet haired wizard walked in, now clad in her trademark silver armor. And before he could react, he and Happy quickly had their heads grabbed by the woman who seemed to be emanating nothing but bloodlust at the moment.

"Natsu. Happy. What did I tell you two about coming to Lucy's home unannounced?" Erza growled before noticing that Ace looked hurt as part of his forehead was red from hitting the floor earlier. Now her blood began to boil even more as her grip on the two's heads began to tighten and the two began to yell from fear and pain. "What. Happened."

"Lieutenant Happy and his academy flunkie Natsu were just trying to protect their friend!" Happy pleaded as Natsu tried to free himself, but Erza in response would hold both of them tighter.

"Don't kill me!" Natsu yelled pleading for his life but Erza had just about enough of this.

"Erza, it was all a big misunderstanding. They thought I was someone that broke in to hurt Lucy." Ace spoke up catching Erza's attention and she looked at the two for confirmation. They quickly nodded the best they could to agree with Ace, so she let the two of them go and they let out loud sighs of relief. "Thank you."

"But are you okay? They didn't hurt you, did they?" Erza said keeping her gaze on Natsu, knowing exactly what he was capable of.

"I'm just fine. But since you guys are here, would you like to stay for dinner?" Ace asked making Erza's demeanor flip completely and she nodded excitedly. She had joined the two for a meal or two since Ace moved in, and each time was like eating at a nice restaurant. She definitely had to thank Bastion for that the next time she returned to the Falkner home.

"What kind of guy is this?" Natsu asked himself as he watched Erza instantly take off the armor and have a seat at Lucy's table while this absolute stranger walked into Lucy's kitchen.

"Natsu, come here and have a seat. We'd like to explain some things to both you and Happy." Erza said pointing to the ground next to the table. Without a second thought, the two hurried over to where she was pointing, sitting on their knees like a pair of children being scolded. "Ace is Lucy's childhood friend that returned with us from our little vacation to go to his sister's wedding. He's living with Lucy at the moment and that was why I told both of you there would be consequences if you showed up here in your usual fashion." Erza said looking down at the two with a stare that said "you're lucky he saved you."

"W-We understand." Natsu and Happy said nodding as they both began to tremble from the stare she was giving.

"B-But why would he suddenly show up and come live with Lucy?! Who is this guy?!" Natsu asked as none of this seemed to make sense to him. All of the secrecy. How gentle Lucy was with him. How Erza was only moments away from putting them six feet under. Who was the stranger in the kitchen?

"He's...my fiancé, Natsu." Natsu and Happy's eyes went completely white and their jaws comically dropped to the floor from Lucy's news.

"You have a fiancé?!" Happy yelled jumping into the air as he began to fly around in a panic. "I haven't won Carla over yet and this she-demon not only has a boyfriend but now she's engaged?! Why cruel world?! Why have you forsaken me, dear lord?!" Happy yelled, flying in a circle before making himself so dizzy he accidentally turned off his wings and flopped onto her bed.

"Don't be so rude, you damn cat!" Lucy yelled, glaring at Happy.

"How do you have fiancé, Lucy? Last I checked: you were single."

"It's a long story." Lucy admitted, looking down at her legs and doing her best from looking at her now puzzled best friend.

"Now that you two know, I expect you both to respect Ace and Lucy's privacy and continue to refrain from showing up unannounced." Erza said, crossing her arms before the smell of their dinner reached her nose. She smiled excitedly and turned to see Ace walking over with four plates of food in his hands. Lucy stood up and hurried over to him, quietly scolding him for not telling her sooner so she could help him. Once they placed the plates on the table, Ace walked over to the armchair in the center of the room and pushed it closer to the table.

"Have a seat, Natsu." Ace said, motioning for Natsu to sit in the chair.

"Why should I?"

"Because you're our guest, and I want our guests to be comfortable and welcome." Before Natsu could argue further, Erza's glare at him made him swiftly hop into the chair as Ace finished pushing it up to the table. As they began to eat, Ace could feel Natsu glaring at him and began to laugh sheepishly. "Is it too hot?"

"I'm a Fire Dragon Slayer, heat is nothing to me. I just want you to know-" Natsu began talking as he filled his fork with pasta and threw it in his mouth. But his threat was cut short by the amazing food that he just tried and swiftly ate everything on his plate. "-that you're awesome!" Natsu's demeanor was the one to flip completely and he gave the man in front of him a thumbs up. Lucy rolled her eyes at what she was witnessing while Erza chuckled and began to enjoy her dinner as well. The quickest way to Natsu's heart truly is: his stomach. "Is there more?!"

"Plenty, help yourself." Natsu didn't have to hear that twice and hurried over to the kitchen to serve himself more food.

"He seems nice." Ace laughed and Lucy nodded in agreement. "And I know why he was acting like that, so he doesn't have to apologize. He really does seem like the great guy you told me about." Ace couldn't help but laugh even more as they watched Natsu walk back with the entire pot of pasta in his hands and sit back down.

"So I don't get it. Why did you call yourself Asemu, but these two called you Ace?" Natsu asked before stuffing his mouth once more.

"Well my name is Asemu, but my friends and family call me Ace. She was the one who actually came up with it when we were kids." Ace explained, pointing at Lucy who chuckled slightly.

"She came up with that? Lame." Natsu's response angered Lucy to the point she nearly stabbed him with her fork.

"Hey!"

"It's because when she was learning to read and write, she spelled my name wrong and wrote Acemu instead of Asemu. Then the Ace part kinda stuck and it's been my nickname since." Ace explained before they heard a knock at the door.

"Hey Lucy, can I come in?" Before anyone could answer the door, a tall man with spiky black hair walked in with his blue haired fangirl in tow behind him.

"Yeah sure thing." Lucy groaned rolling her eyes as this giant meeting was definitely not something she was expecting today.

"Oh, this must be Gray right?" Ace asked, pointing at the man who just entered the apartment.

"Yeah and that's Juvia." Lucy said, pointing at Juvia who crossed her arms in amusement once she saw how close Ace and Lucy were.

"Nice to meet you, I'm-" Before Ace could finish introducing himself, Happy woke up and frantically flew in front of the two.

"Oh my gosh Gray you aren't gonna believe this but Lucy who we all thought is hopeless and going to grow old by herself and live in the mountains with a dozen cats writing books actually has a boyfriend and now it turns out she's actually engaged and he lives here now and-ACK!" Happy's rant was cut off by Lucy grabbing a book and throwing it into the back of his head, swiftly knocking him out once more.

"That was...a lot to take in." Gray gulped as he tried to piece together everything Happy had just said in the span of five seconds. "Can someone repeat that but like thirty times slower?"

"I'm Asemu Falkner, I'm Lucy's childhood friend and now her fiancé. It's nice to meet you two, I've heard so many nice things about you." Ace explained as he stood up and walked over to the two, shaking each of their hands.

"Wait wait wait. Fiancé? How did that happen?" Juvia spoke up this time as mentally: she was cheering that her love rival was absolutely gone now.

"It's an arranged marriage that our parents set up. So don't worry about thinking I was keeping secrets from you guys, I just didn't know the right time to tell you because this just happened like two weeks ago." Lucy's reply surprised the three and Natsu pointed his fork at her.

"Again? Didn't your dad learn the first time?"

"I'm actually okay with it, this time. Ace and I agreed but we're not jumping into anything yet, we're taking it slow because it's been years and we're just getting to know each other again." Lucy explained as Ace walked over and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. She smiled at him and placed the hand with her ring on his in response, and the four who just learned the news noticed it for the first time.

"Did you have that the whole time?!"

"Yeah I'm surprised no one ever noticed." Erza said before reaching into the pot in Natsu's hands and served herself seconds.

After their eventful dinner, the group spent the rest of the night talking among each other and getting to know Ace even more. Now that they were all more acquainted and it was getting late, the other Fairy Tail wizards decided it was time to head home for the night.

"Good night everyone!" Lucy and Ace called out to their friends as they walked down the street. Once they were out of ear shot, Ace couldn't help himself and started laughing.

"What's so funny?"

"Your friends, they really are as great as I imagined. You're really lucky, Lu." Ace said as he pulled Lucy in for a side hug and she nodded in agreement.

"They're going to tell everyone now, you know."

"So? It's not like it could be a secret for much longer." Ace shrugged. Lucy couldn't help but do the same because he had a point there. But before they decided to go back upstairs, Ace jumped and checked to see if Erza was still nearby. Nope, she was gone. "Aw crap."

"What's the matter?"

"I forgot to tell Erza that Ryu's coming to visit tomorrow. He seemed excited when he talked about seeing her again." Ace explained, crossing his arms and looking up.

"Now that you mention it, Erza does seem to look forward to see your brother again whenever we talk about him." Lucy said as she looked up and placed her finger and thumb on her chin in a thinking pose. The two then turned to look at each other with shocked looks on their faces. "You don't think?"

"And it would explain the morning after the wedding." The two's eyes widened as the same thought crossed their minds. But they brushed it off and began to laugh as they waved their hands in the air. "No way."

"Definitely not."