~Lucy~

"I would like to see these fairy lights hanging above the pedestal. The rugs must not have any creases or stains and also please make sure the red is a rose color. Not too light or else all the decorations will be out of tone. The theme is white on red and I want to make sure we have plenty of Aria white lilies and red ranunculus." The planners bowed at my orders and ran their separate ways to get my demands done. I swiped my hand over my hair and sighed feeling exhaustion wave off of me. There was so much work to be done and yet I'm only getting started. While a canopy of where the couple's party will be held is still being sorted I was running around asking the impossible on my people. They understood why I'm stressed, and they've all been very patient with me.

After Adroath's memorial was finished, and the fight with Natsu was over and done with, I stayed in bed for the rest of the day. I was too tired to think about doing anything, and if I hadn't promised on planning a wedding I would still be in bed. Natsu has been with me throughout the past two days. Yesterday I was just sorting on what was expected when the guild arrived, and now today all of my planners and servants were running around the city to get everything sorted and prepped. Once again, time was not on my side. However, this time it was my fault for procrastinating so long. "How am I going to get a wedding finished less than a week? The guild will be here in four days!" Stress was pilling on top of my shoulders. Somehow I was going to need a miracle to finish the decorations.

I sighed once more then began to write a list of food that was going to be made. While I wrote, I heard a knock at the door. "Come in," I said never looking up. The door slightly opened with the sound of a petite voice. "Lady Lucy, you have...um...guests?" That got my attention. When did I invite guests? Wait, who did I invite? "I'll be down right away. Please let them know I'll arrive shortly." The small maid bowed. "Yes, madam." Before she turned away I halted her. "Hang on. You say, guests. How many people are there?"

"There's quite a lot of people Lady Lucy. They are very rowdy when first arriving to Aria. They came through the Forbidden Woods pathway that you helped built before you left all those months ago." I set my pen down. "Do they have this insignia on their skin?" I showed her my right hand praying that it wasn't Fairy Tail that arrived four days ahead of time. The servant squinted her eyes. "Umm...yes, madam! As far as I saw those people had your insignia." I cursed a little too loud. "What?!" I yelled pushing my chair and running around the desk. "This can't be happening. Gods this just keeps getting worse doesn't it!" I muttered walking fast-paced whilst the maid was jogging beside me. "Shall I ask them to leave madam?"

"No no, they're my comrades. Two of them are the reason why we're making the wedding preparations for the end of the week. But they arrived far too early!" I was moving so fast I skipped multiple steps down the stairs to see my guildmates. It's been so long that I was excited to see them once more, and yet the wedding isn't anywhere close to being finished. "Please get our rooms ready for my nakamas. They will be staying with us for the time being." Once again the maid bowed and ran off to get other servants to help her. Before I went to the Main Entrance I halted to catch my breath. I wanted to know why on EarthLand did they decide to show up so early. I mean, I was ecstatic that my comrades were here, but nothing is ready. I feel like a terrible host.

I entered the Main Entrance to witness the guild in one big group gazing at the architecture above them. "This place is so big!" MiraJane said in total awe. Elfman picked Lisanna upon his shoulder and whooped. "This place needs to be more manly!" He yelled while his sisters only laughed. Levy pulled Gajeel and Pantherlily to look closer at the walls. "I've only read this place in books, and now I'm standing right before it! Gajeel isn't this place amazing!?" The Iron Dragon Slayer only rolled his eyes. "It's just a white brick." Muttered the bored Dragon Slayer. Juvia pulled Gray into her arms and cried in glee. "Juvia thinks this place is beautiful! Gray-sama did you actually live in this place for some time?" Gray smiled before nodding. "I did. However, I wasn't really able to actually look at its architect until now." Stars appeared before Juvia's irises. "Waaah! Juvia has never before been jealous of Gray-sama!" Gray sighed in return. "Juvia you do know we're staying in the palace for at least a week right?" Wendy ran out of the crowd and joyfully laughed. "Carla, Happy! This place hasn't changed one bit! Maybe it only got prettier, but it's still amazing to see!" The two exceeds flew above Wendy and agreed. "Aye Wendy! I can't wait to see Nat-zu and Lu-shee!" Erza and Jellal's hands were latched together until the scarlet-haired woman brought her attention to me. "Lucy!" She announced gaining everyone's attention. Before I knew it I was under a dog pile of people hugging me and telling me that I was missed.

"It's so good to see you again, Lucy," Erza whispered after I was out of the dog pile of people. I rubbed the back of my neck and chuckled. "You guys haven't changed a bit! Still the energetic guild I've come to love." I pulled my hand away from my neck. "I'm so happy to see everyone," I moved closer to Erza's ear so no one would hear. "but aren't you guys four days early to arrive?" Erza blinked in confusion until she nodded. "We know Lucy. The guild received a letter four days ago from Aria, and we've been on a train since then because of what we read."

"A letter? You guys got a letter?" I asked tilting my head. Erza's sweet smile fell with sudden sadness in her eyes. "I assumed it wasn't you because of how awful the writing was. We got the news...about Adroath." A sharp pain came over my heart. "O-Oh..." It was all I could mutter. The bride-to-be placed her hand warmly on my shoulder. "We tried to get here as fast as we could to be here. But, by the look, you just gave... we didn't make it." The lump in my throat swelled. I hastily wiped my eyes before any tears could shed. "H-He passed away two days ago."

My teammates came up to me with sorrowful faces. The blue exceed rammed his head into my chest so he could get a hug. Wendy wiped away the tears running down her face whilst Gray was looking down. "Adroath-san is gone isn't he?" Wendy sniffled holding Carla in her arms now. "I didn't get the chance to say goodbye." The Ice-Mage whispered to himself. I looked into every one of my nakamas and witnessed as they were in turmoil. They all had a bond with Adroath, and they're taking his death as hard as Natsu and I are. Wendy brought her large doe-like eyes up to me. "Did Adroath-san at least pass away peacefully? He wasn't hurting was he?" More pain came over my heart from Wendy's question. How could I tell them I was the one that stopped his heart? I knew deep down if I didn't then Adroath would have suffered in his final moments. I ended his torment and gave him a swift death. Yet, it was me that killed him...

"He passed away in his sleep." A voice out of nowhere replied behind me. I didn't need to see to know who it was. The guildmates' smiles were brought back to life because of this certain person. Happy flew out of my hug and cried in happiness. "Natsu!" He yelled slamming himself into my Soulmate's chest. The salmon-haired mage gave a warm chuckled and hugged Happy. "Yo! I see you guys got my letter?" He asked with a childish grin. I fully turned my body to him. "You were the one that sent the letter to Fairy Tail?" Natsu nodded. "Yes. I thought with the guild here they would be able to help you with all the wedding stuff! Plus, our teammates deserve to say goodbye. I explained everything to them it's alright."

"Natsu why would you send them a letter? I don't have anything remotely ready yet I promised Erza I would see it done." Erza stepped in by putting her hand up. "Lucy, you've been very busy trying your best to save Adroath for so long. I understand and it's okay. What I want you to do now is to get plenty of rest for me. You and Natsu get some shuteye." I didn't know why, but I was beginning to grow angry. "I said I would get the wedding ready by the time you and Jellal arrived! I can't allow you to just step in all because I'm mourning!" My team seemed startled of what I just said. "Lucy, we can handle this. I can clearly tell you and Natsu haven't gotten rest you need to get sleep." Erza persisted which kept making me even angrier. Why was I so angry all of a sudden? I wasn't mad at my comrades or even the setback on the wedding. I was just...mad. "I said...I can handle this." My voice growled in a menacing way.

"That's enough Lucy." My thoughts snapped out of the strange fog by the sound of Natsu's voice. Whatever was happening to me, I was brought back because of my Dragon Slayer. I placed my hand on my head after clenching my jaw. Natsu put his hand behind my scarred back, caressing me gently with his fingernails. "When was the last time you got a full night's sleep? When were we actually able to 'relax' Luce?" I put my head down in shame. "We never did. I was always gone and you had to take care of Aria while I was away and Adroath was bedridden. We haven't actually done anything together since we got here." My voice was quiet and full of guilt. Why I was angry before I just forgot; now I wanted to just apologize for acting so rude. "Lucy," Erza began making me look up to her. "please for our sake you and Natsu get sleep. For now, MiraJane and I can get everything ready for the wedding and the guild will be more than happy to help the civilians out." Eventually, I succumbed to my teammates' wishes. "Okay, I'll rest for a bit. Natsu and I will get sleep but tomorrow I will continue helping with the wedding!" With a grin, Erza winked. "We'll see." She said in return pulling me in for one more hug.

Natsu and I walked together in silence as we made our way to our room. The closer I was reaching the bedroom the more I realized how exhausted I actually was. Natsu pulled my hand into his and smiled. "You look like a zombie." He joked with his eyes examining me. I chuckled with a snide remark. "Says the one that is holding bags under his eyes." Natsu opened the door for me before moving aside for me to enter first. When I walked in the room I opened my drawer for clothes. "I'll be in the washroom taking a bath. You can get in bed and wait for me."

"Don't need to tell me twice!" Natsu was already taking his vest off and kicked his sandals to the wall. I grabbed my nighties and a towel to go ahead and get a hot bath. With the door closed and locked I started to strip myself to get into the tub. My eyes caught sight of me in the mirror while I was still the process of taking my sweater off. Slowly, I turned myself around gazing at the scars imprinted on my back. They were no longer a bright pink but were now a darker color of my skin mending itself together. The scars will always be with me, reminding me of what I am, and what I am capable of. I closed my eyes before taking in a deep breath.

"You have been called to see the torment, of Lucy Heartfilia." Raphael's voice echoed in my memories. Just hearing him made my blood go cold. "No." I pleaded placing my hands over my head. "Demon, I demand you show your wings! Show them your powers of Darkness." A deep awful sickness buried itself in my chest. I had to quickly catch myself on the counter from the sudden dizziness of my memories. So many hands latched onto my wings, forcing them to stop resisting. "Stop it! You're hurting her!" Natsu's voice rang out of nowhere. He, like the rest of Fairy Tail, was terrified of what was to come. I was so scared, but I wanted to stay strong for them. I just pleaded for them to look away and not cry for me. But in reality, I wanted to look away with shame and sob of what was to come. "Please don't," I begged falling to the ground of the washroom. "Nail them!" The thick iron nails punctuated my wings and forced them to stay on the street. It was too painful to bear, but that wasn't even the worst of my torture. "On my command!" Tears threatened to fall down my cheeks. "Please...stop. I don't want this..."

"LAUNCH!" I gasped and kicked myself to the other side of the wall where the sink was. I was hyperventilating cutting my eyes back and forth of where I was. Out of nowhere, a knock made my attention focus on the door. "Lucy? Are you alright in there?" Natsu said with a soft tone. I made myself take in a few deep breaths to calm myself. I didn't want to admit it but I was still in pain from the scars. The physical pain I didn't have. But, the memories of those whips, slaughtering me and my wings apart like cattle, I'll never be able to forget it. I'm scarred not only on my back but in my mind as well. The worst part is I know I would never speak of this to anyone. No one can see this weakness. I can trust no one about this... I'm alone once more to fix my broken mind. I didn't even want Solantir to be a part of this, I didn't want to rely on his healing to just numb the pain. I had to fix this. "Lucy?"

"I'm okay." I loudly said back while picking myself up. "I just slipped that's all." Natsu didn't say anything for a minute that I grew worried he saw clearly through my lie again. I heard the Dragon Slayer only sigh. "Please be careful Luce. I don't want you breaking your head open while you're naked." I scoffed by his absurd words. "Like hell, I can break my head open just by falling two feet to the ground! I'm just clumsy when I think a lot." My soulmate chuckled on the other side of the door. "I know you are. It's one of the many reasons why I fell in love with you."

'She's too adorable for her own good.'

Natsu's thoughts and words made me blush profoundly. I placed my hand over the door gently laughing. "And your hardheadedness is one of the many reasons why I love you." My voice whispered even though I knew his keen Dragon senses could hear me. "You are just as hardheaded as I am Sweetheart." That made me roll my eyes. "Whatever Dragneel! Go to bed I need to get in the bath." By the shadow underneath the door, Natsu didn't move yet. Only a couple of moments went by until Natsu spoke once more. "I love you, Lucy." My heart almost melted by the compassion in his voice. It was like every word he spoke he meant it. I could feel all of his emotions spilling onto me like warm honey. They were beautiful and heartwarming I almost cried again. With a smile on my face, I returned a favor to him. "I love you, even more, Natsu." Even though I shouldn't let my emotions out of control, I hoped Natsu felt my emotions in return. He may not understand what he felt, or maybe mistake it as his own, but I wanted him to know I loved him more than life. The Dragon Slayer was silent once more. "Natsu?"

"I'm sorry, I just feel really happy when you say that. I can't even describe what I'm feeling, but I hope it never stops." My smile lingered because I got my answer. "Go to bed. I'll join you shortly." I removed my hand off the door after Natsu's shadow could no longer be seen under the door. Without looking at the mirror this time, I took the rest of my clothing off to take a relaxing bath.

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

As always...love you all!❤️