Author's Note: I would love to dedicate this story to all of the amazing and incredible women in my life who have always helped me work on my self-esteem and see myself in a better light! Thank you so much, everyone!
"Does this dress make my breasts look like swollen watermelons," Erza Scarlet asked her friend, Lucy Heartfilia. The latter of whom was currently rubbing her swollen belly and glaring at her red-haired best friend.
"No, it doesn't. I am the one here with saggy jackfruits…Damn it, I used to have perfectly symmetrical breasts before he knocked me up!" For a dramatic measure, Lucy cupped her chest to move her breasts up and down to prove her point, "Seriously Erza, you're sexy, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. My own husband tried flirting with you on multiple occasions…I mean, I don't blame him, who wouldn't want you but the point is, you're smoking hot, literally! That's why you have such fiery red hair, though it's more of a ruby sort of shade of red if you ask me!"
Hearing this, Erza's face began to color, the reddening skin almost matching the shade of red that was her hair color, "Goodness, don't remind me of that! This was before Loke met you and you converted that womanizer's ass into worshipping you as the celestial star goddess that you truly are." Erza normally did not indulge in profanities but on the occasions that she did, she would give sailors a run for their money and Lucy and Loke happened to know about that all too well.
A soft giggle escapes from Lucy's mouth, "Well, if I am a celestial star goddess, then you are my courageous and most honorable battle warrior goddess. Don't worry Erza, you are absolutely stunning and I just know that he won't be able to take his eyes off of you tonight. Who knows, you might bring home not just a ring but a husband to go along with it! I know a place where they have legal 24/7 wedding services where they can help you get a marriage license and get married the very same day!"
Erza shook her head from side to side, "Lucy, that is so batshit crazy! My parents, especially my mother won't let me hear the end of it! Sure, my parents married for love and eloped but that's because my mother was being a cheapskate after years of growing up in such immense forms of poverty that the average Fiore citizen could never fathom being so impoverished like she was. My mother hardly ever asks for much but one nonnegotiable thing is that I am properly married should I ever decide to be lawfully wedded to someone else."
Running her fingers through her bright honey-blonde hair, Lucy sighed, not in exasperation but in defeat, "I give up." She held her hands up in the air, "Look Erza, I say this as someone who loves you deeply and would do anything and everything for you. Gray Fullbuster is completely and truly in love with you. He'd be a fool not to and if you're still feeling this insecure then it's all his fault! But, I don't think that's the case at all so let's just focus on you looking your best because you should feel like the goddess that you actually are. Mama was right about you, you've been given divine beauty but you act like you don't and you don't realize that you're the one whose essence painters salivate to capture in their artworks."
Erza said nothing as she allowed her best friend and practically her sister from another bloodline to zip up her dress, style her hair into an elegant coiffure, apply her makeup meticulously, place her borrowed jewelry that she got from Mirajane and Cana, and spritz perfume from head to toe.
Erza sneezed, as always Lucy sprayed far too much perfume for her liking, "Lucy, why must you always insist on spraying perfume on my ankles?"
"To leave a scent trail, of course." Giving Erza a naughty smile, she sighed playfully, "Strawberry cake isn't the only thing that's going to be offered as dessert. By the end of the night, you'll be Mrs. Gray Fulllbuster and you'll be having all sorts of treats."
Realization dawned upon her after pondering for a moment about what she was insinuating about, "Luciennette Daphnea Marie Heartfilia, I can't believe you! Are you fucking with me right now? Goodness, is this what happens to pregnant women? You lot get all freaky and nasty all of a sudden?"
"Oh, I am freaky and nasty all the time? How did you think I got pregnant then?"
"Ew, not helping right now…Damn it," she groaned, "I regret ever introducing you and Loke to each other…If I knew that this would happen then I would much rather you become a pious woman of philanthropy."
"Shut up, virgin! The one who wants to be a virgin forever is you, not me," Lucy teased, batting her eyelashes in a falsely sweet manner. Giving Erza a wistful smile, she paused before saying, "I was honestly content with being my parents for the rest of my life but after meeting Loke and knowing him all these years, I guess he made me realize that it's alright to be selfish with my desires. Sure, he was a pain in the ass with his many romantic endeavors with multiple people but during one rainy day, the two of us got to bond on an emotionally intimate level and it made me see him in a different light and our relationship changed for the better. I know that it's awkward since you and Gray have known each other since you were children with Natsu being the one to introduce you two but who says you can't be both the best of friends and the best of lovers? There is nothing wrong with being selfish with your desires. If you don't prioritize yourself and make yourself happy first, then who will? Nobody can give you happiness, it all depends on you to do so. And, I've never seen you more happy than with Gray. When you two look at each other, it's like all time has stopped and there is nobody else in the world present. You two only exist for one another, a pair created perfectly to be together forever for a thousand years and more. I swear, it's like he was the blood running through your veins and that without him, you'd be a bleeding mess. Without him, there would be nothing pumping your body to keep you alive. You love him, that is a fact that can not be refuted, my dear."
"I suppose you're right." Hiccuping, she was quiet for a moment before adding on to her words, "I needed that. Thank you, Lucy."
"Anytime, Erza. What are friends for? You and me, we're soul sisters and we will always be here for one another. And, you were the one to help me realize that I loved Loke and that he loves me. It's my turn to help you now." She pulled Erza into a hug, and Erza accepted her warm embrace, tightening and holding her close.
"Dry your tears, Erza. That mascara's expensive! You're lucky Mirajane gets free makeup all the time because nobody should have to ruin good mascara. You should have your lipstick messed up, not your mascara." Carefully, Lucy wiped Erza's tears with her fingers before placing kisses on her forehead, and cheeks, and finally, she placed a quick peck on the lips, "I love you! You're simply the best! Now, knock them all dead and kill them all with kindness! Especially Gray, if he's not put into cardiac arrest after seeing how good you look tonight then I will personally choke him to death myself!"
"Where did this violence come from?"
"It came from you. Remember when you threatened to castrate Loke when we first got engaged?"
"Yes…"
"Well, I guess it's my turn to do the violence now!"
The End.
Author's Note: Perhaps it's the pregnancy hormones, but Lucy's personality has become a lot more spicy! As Lucy would like to say, "It's all Loke's fault for knocking me up!" I had a lot of fun writing this little story! I know it's incomplete but this leaves room for more, wouldn't you say? Sisterhood, womanhood, and girlhood are all about loving one another! Queens do not put each other down, instead, we bring each other up and fix each other's crowns!
