Lucy

The three of us laid watching the snow fall in the beach chairs. My eyes half open, my mind completely somewhere else.

"How did you find me?" I asked.

"I was about to go get some water from the vending machine when I saw you run by," Wendy started. "I hope you don't think I'm nosy or anything but I felt I just had to follow you. So I got on the next elevator watching you and Founder Mavis talking. I just followed you afterwards."

"And I was just enjoying a piece of strawberry cheesecake reading a magazine with Jellal when I saw you," Erza closed her eyes. "I found Wendy and made her sit down with us so we just listened."

"So I can save my breath," I said.

I spotted Wendy open her mouth but she shut it, afraid that anything she says could offend me or cause me to break down again.

"Lucy," Erza, however, wasn't afraid at all. "How long do you think you could've kept it from me? I am one of your closest friends after all. I can read you like a book no matter what."

I tensed, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"The first morning here I knew," she looked at me. "So don't pretend anymore."

"You sure are the great Titania," I sighed. "Nothing can hide from you. But Erza, did you know?"

"Know what?"

"About how I was supposed to be the one that married Natsu?"

She drew a breath, "When I first found out you were a Heartfilia months ago, I thought it was just something simple. Like two large companies in the middle of a fight and you were somehow the key or something to it. But as time went on, I started thinking about a few things. Especially when you two are together. After the day you declared yourselves as best friends, I noticed how it was Natsu that was the one that pushed you away the most whereas you were just doing your best to stay away from those feelings that keep coming because you respect Lisanna and that they were betrothed. Then one day I remembered Natsu once complaining to Gray and I about how he had to marry some girl he's never met so I just put two and two together."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I just wasn't sure," Erza shrugged. "I'm still human you know. I make mistakes and I was afraid that my observations were just me being a little paranoid and too nosy. It was not any of my business."

Yet again, I realize I'm the only one who is to blame for this.

Something beeped twice, signalling midnight. Have we been up here for two hours already?

"Well," I slid out of my chair. "There's no use worrying about it now. It's best we get some sleep. The first match is in six hours and I don't want to be the reason why two of the best players are out of commission."

Wendy bounced to my side, "Hey. We came up here out of our own free will. Don't blame yourself."

Ironic... this whole thing is my fault.

She grabbed my hand giving it a tight reassuring squeeze, "Come on. I don't care about the hotel rules, you can spend the night in our room."

"Our room?"

"You must be really tired," Erza came up behind me. "Wendy and I are roommates."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Natsu

I glared at the man with rage I didn't even know I had. I was a short-tempered guy, that much I knew but this man... I have never despise him more than anything else in my life. Yet here he is, just enjoying himself in the same hotel room without a care in the world.

I slammed my hand on the coffee table once, very loudly, "Where the fuck is Lucy?!"

"Hush now, little brother you don't want to wake your teammates before a big game, right?" Zeref only smirked. "As for Lucy, I don't know."

"You called her down there, didn't you bastard?" I snapped. "Then where the hell is she now?"

"Probably with two other friends that heard the whole conversation we had," he said.

When I heard the soft knocking half an hour ago, I knew something bad had happened. My whole stomach dropped the moment I opened it with a blank faced Jellal standing there with my damned brother.

"I think it's best you don't go looking for her tonight though, Natsu," Zeref pointed out. "She was in quite an unstable position when she left that I don't think your face is going to fix anything."

"I'll fix your face first," I growled. "Why did you tell her, huh? Why did you tell her and make this situation so much more worst when you could've just not accept the rejection from the Strauss?"

He leaned back, "Because I think someone as nice as Lucy should at least know the truth. Especially if the one person she loves is the one that is hiding it from her. I just thought it was my duty as the older brother of that person to let her know what is true and what is not."

"I can't believe this! Does Big Sis know?!"

"Mavis had agreed with me because she respected a person's autonomy," he replied.

"Damn to you both."

It was Zeref's turn to finally get angry with me, "Stop hiding in a small ball, little brother and grow up! Mavis and I had to clean up your mess because you were practically playing around with Lucy. Did you think I wanted to hurt her? I am actually really fond of Lucy. I was looking forward to making her my little sister-in-law because whenever I looked upon her as a child, I saw you in her. She was perfect for you, for our little screwed up family so I offered the arrangement on the spot. Don't you understand? Mavis and I were the ones that saved her, you were the one that was hurting her by keeping this whole thing a secret when you knew the moment you laid eyes on her that day on that train!"

My fists opened and shut. I should punch him. I should punch him then kick him out but I couldn't. I might hate my brother but I know he's got a point. I hate my brother, but I love him because he's always there to make sure that me and everybody around me doesn't get hurt whenever I'm foolish.

But with Lucy, I'm not foolish. I was nothing, I was below foolish. There isn't even a word for me when it came to her. And I know that while she's lying beside Erza and Wendy with her eyes closed, I know they're not resting. Her mind is constantly blaming herself for this whole thing because she ran away.

It isn't her fault one bit.

No, I lost Lucy once because I was a fool, an idiot, a selfish bastard who only thought he was caring for her but it was only for himself.

I'm not making that same mistake twice.

"I'm getting my Lucy back and making sure she stays for good this time," I growled. "I'm all fired up now!"

"I like that look," Mavis' voice came from the front door of the hotel room. My sister-in-law was holding a piece of cake, leaning against the door frame; the fork in her mouth.

Zeref crossed her arm, a genuine smile on his face now, "Yes I know."

"Someone finally lit a fire under his butt," Mavis laughed, putting another forkful of cake in her mouth. "He looks just like you when he's determined, honey."

A hand patted my hair, "No. He looks exactly like our father."

I waved his hand off, "I still hate your guts and will never understand why Big Sis Mavis ever married you. Why did you marry him?"

"His charisma," she replied as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "And because he's the biggest dork of the decade."

My brother walked over to where his wife was standing, pecking her cheek softly, "Correction: biggest dork of the century. Now come, he needs plenty of rest for his match tomorrow. Natsu?"

"What?"

"For now, my acceptance on the rejection of the arrangement is...pending," Zeref looked at me. "Do work fast, they are getting quite restless."

With a hand on her lower back, Zeref started ushering Mavis out of the door. My sister-in-law waved at me over her husband's shoulder, "Good night baby bro! Hope I can call Lucy my baby sister by the end of tomorrow."

I gave her a giant reassuring smile, "You can bet on it!"