Hey guys! I know I've been gone for months now but I've been busy with school and figuring out how the hell this story was going to work. Ok so I just wanted to put it out there, that the characters might be a little OOC… I just try to make them act as realistic as they can be in the situation I put them in. I also wanted to say that this story has a cliché storyline but there are little things that movie and tv show characters do that the characters in this story doesn't do. Understand? So to put it in simpler terms, it's a cliché story line but the characters' actions are not cliché…

Now that I've gotten that confusing crap out of the way, the updating schedule for this story and every other story of mine won't be late and are constant (unless I'm dying or in hospital). So I will be posting the next chapter of this story every 2nd day unless I say different because of unseen circumstances. Also, if anything is in italics, it is the characters' thoughts (usually Lucy's thoughts). There's nothing else to really say but… Enjoy!

Disclaimer- I do not own Fairy Tail whatsoever... duh

The beautiful blonde looked down at her daughter, her brown eyes filled with kindness and love.

"Lucy dear. I want you to remember something for me."

"Of course Mama!" The 4-year-old jumped around, excited to spend time with her mother.

"Remember that I would never abandon you without a good reason, do you understand?" She looked at the little girl seriously.

"I know! You love me and I love you, isn't that right?" Lucy smiled up at her.

"Yes... that is always right, for as long as you believe in it. I also want you to remember to stay strong. Will you do that for me?"

"I'M STRONG LIKE MAMA!" The little girl exclaimed, bursting into laughter.

"Lucy, one last thing." The girl stopped squirming and looked up at her mother. "Honey, remember that there's nothing fortunate about having your fate decided for you. You have to grab your own happiness." The older woman lightly touched the young girl's face, putting a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Ok... I don't really get it... why are you telling me this anyways? I'm probably going to forget it... and you're always going to be here for me."

"In your heart, yes." Layla smiled as she let her shoulders drop.

"Let's go play hide and seek with Loke now!" Lucy dragged her mother down the long hallway towards a man with orange hair.

Lucy looked into the darkness of her room. Rubbing her eyes and seeing static, she realised what had happened.

"Not that again..." She sighed.

The dream haunted her every time she thought she had gotten over it. It was just to mock her. A memory to say that she could never have happiness, to say that she didn't deserve it. It was imprinted in her brain like a brand.

Lucy was so naive at that time but she had learnt from that mistake. Of course her mother wouldn't be there forever. Of course everything that brought her happiness disappeared. Of course.

"Just go away! Why can't you respect the fact I don't have to listen to you?!"

"Lucy! You are getting married to the son of the Eucliffe family and that is that. I will give you no say as this will expand the business!" Jude gave his daughter a stern look before walking out of her room.

"I HATE YOU!" The blonde haired girl cursed her fate. "Argh… what the heck?!" Lucy cried into her pillow and screamed as loud as she could.

Through blurry and teary eyes, she searched the blankets frantically, eventually finding her phone. She didn't even know how long she'd been crying, though it felt like hours. With shaking hands, Lucy dialled her driver's number as she needed to clear her mind away from home.

"L-L-L-Loke…?"

Lucy? Are you ok? What's the matter?

"L-L- Loke… I just need you to drive me around… nowhere in particular. Just away from here…"

Um ok? Meet me out at the front door. Are you sure you're ok?

"Yeah… I'll tell you everything la- kya!" Lucy held her hand up to her chest and looked at her father in alarm.

"Lucy Heartfilia! Don't even try to leave this property when you have directly disobeyed my orders and were being extremely unladylike!" Jude's voice boomed through the walls. Picking up the phone off of the ground, he placed it on his ear. "Loke Celeste, your service is no longer needed. Thank you and good evening." He hung up and threw the phone across the room, smashing the screen.

Lucy gagged at the horrible smell. "Have you been drinking again…?" She quietly asked as she slid down the wall and shrunk into the corner of the room.

"So what if I have?! My one wish is to expand the estate and to be the wealthiest politician and businessman in Fiore and the only way to achieve that is through you… In saying that, you can't even do a simple task for me!" The man began slurring his words.

"You call getting married to someone you don't even know a 'simple task'?!"

Jude slapped her in the face. Smiling at the oddly-satisfying sound of her sobs, the sadistic father began beating his daughter.

Lucy just kept her arms in front of her face and as much of her body as she could, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt. Crying out in pain didn't help either, it just made him more and more eager to hurt her. Lucy began to feel faint as the already dark room became darker.

All of a sudden, the hitting and kicking stopped and it gave Lucy a time to breathe. Spluttering and coughing, she shakily leaned on the walls for support.

"You better look your best for tomorrow young lady… You are going to meet your future husband and don't make me look like a fool." Jude limped out of the room and slammed the door shut, leaving his daughter curled up on the floor crying and bloody.

Waking up early in the morning, Lucy couldn't move a muscle. Crawling to the bathroom, she shakily used the sink to haul herself up.

I look like I had just been beaten up. Oh wait. I was.

Lucy sniggered at her sick sense of humour.

After a long hot shower and flashbacks of last night, Lucy got dressed in her most formal attire (with the help of the servants) and sat in front of her dressing table. She applied an even coat makeup, making sure to cover all her bruises and cuts.

Leaving the room, she felt like a fake. There was nothing left of her that she knew. Lucy Heartfilia no longer felt as though she was whole. At the end of the day, her life would be given away, sold. She felt like an abandoned toy in a pawn shop. Her mother was the girl that left her there.

Lucy cursed her fate again. Her sweet, kind mother had died when she was only around 7 years old and left a broken husband that hasn't mended his wounds. Lucy lets her father hit her, even though the drinking annoys her to say the least. She couldn't defend herself even if she even tried. There's nothing she could do except sit in the corner of her room and wait for destiny.

Approaching her father's door, Lucy wiped all thoughts from her mind and knocked lightly.

"Father? Are you ready to leave?" Her voice sounded weak and scratchy.

Jude opened the big wooden door and pushed passed her, adjusting his suit.

"Of course I am. Hurry up and get to the car. I don't want to be late." He demanded in a gruff voice.

"Yes father…" Lucy shuffled to the stairs.

"Stop slouching and dragging your feet Miss Lucy. Your father will become mad at this behaviour." Aries, one of her favourite maids, worriedly warned.

"Oh... um... yeah. Sorry. I'm just sore."

"Did he… did he hurt you again…?" The light-pink haired female furrowed her brows.

"Obviously…"

"Lucy! Did I not make myself clear?! I do not want to be late!" Jude stormed out of the front door and made his way to the car.

"Sorry Miss Lucy. Please be careful." Aries bowed and shuffled away.

Lucy grabbed hold of the railing and made her way down the stairs as fast as she could, biting her lip at the pain.

As she entered the car, Loke gave her a warm but worried smile which she simply shrugged off.

"Now that we're ready to leave, Loke, please take us to the Eucliffe estate." Jude commanded.

"Of course sir."

The journey there was short but extremely tense. It was always like that. No talking, no moving, nothing. Arriving at the driveway of the big mansion, Loke parked the expensive car and got out, opening the door for them.

"Thanks Loke." Lucy winced at the pain in her leg as she stepped out.

"No problem at all. Are you ok?"

"Well in all honesty, no. But I can't say that so yes, I am ok." She slid passed him, walking with a slight glide in her step as much she could.

Waiting at the small flight of stairs was a blonde haired male with blue eyes and a scar across his right eyebrow. His posture was quite slanted with a cool atmosphere about him. Standing behind the handsome boy was his beautiful mother, Hikaru (meaning light and radiance).

Sting politely bowed at Jude and smiled at Lucy.

"Good morning sir. It is an honour to be in your presence."

"The honour is all mine. What a polite boy you have Hikaru! Now I would like you to meet my daughter, Lucky Lucy Heartfilia."

Lucy gagged in disgust at how nice her father was being just to impress the Eucliffe's. But her opinion didn't matter anyways. She bowed.

"I have heard many things about you Sting Eucliffe and those rumours don't live up to the truth. It is a pleasure meeting you."

Oh how she hated what she had become.

"Jude! What a charming little thing she is! Come in! Come in! There is tea in the living room to discuss our matters and Sting can take Lucy up to his room. Won't you dear?" Hikaru looked at her son expectantly, her brown hair framing her face.

"Yes mother. Lady Lucy, after you." He gestured for her to walk through the door first.

Nodding in thanks, Lucy stepped in and the smell of jasmine tea filled her nostrils. She envied how great their life seemed and how cosy the place was, in comparison to her dark and empty mansion.

Sting walked up the stairs and led her to his room, shoving his hands into his pockets. As they entered and closed the door, the noises of tea cups hitting saucers were heard. Sting sat on his bed while Lucy plonked herself down onto his small couch.

"So…"

"Well there's nothing much to talk about is there." Lucy sighed.

"Not really… Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself? And if you want, maybe tell me why you're all bruised and cut."

"I… I just fell down my stairs by accident… How did you even notice through all the makeup?"

"I have pretty good attention to detail if I say so myself… how about some info about you?"

"Well as you can tell, I was born into the wealthy Heartfilia family and was named Lucky Lucy Heartfilia. My parents named me after a broken sign. It was supposed to be 'lucky' but it had lost its 'k'. Stupid I know. When I was 7, my mother passed away from cancer and left my father and I in an empty house with nothing to live for. I've never been outside of the gates of my house before except when I'm in the car or contained in someone else's gates. I've never had a real friend before and the world probably knows nothing about me or if I even exist. I've actually ran away once, but my father found me… I was such amateur back then. So now that I'm done, how about you pretty boy?"

Sting just sat there all shocked. "Um… well… my life isn't all that special. I was born, my father left me and my mother for another woman, my life has been pretty good since then – not to rub it in – I have a lot of awesome friends, I got good grades in school, and I was always the sportsman of the year and was on the academic high achievers list and yeah."

"Well aren't you a 'goodie-two-shoes'… now that that stupid shit is over and done with, we should go back down to our parents and discuss business." Lucy stood up from her chair and brushed the non-existing dust off of her attire.

"What business? I thought you were just here for like a 'meet and greet' thing." Sting stood up as well.

"Don't you know? Um… sorry to break it to you but we're getting married." Lucy gave a nonchalant shrug.

The blonde haired male chocked on his own saliva. "W-w-what?!" He managed to spit out.

"That went well."

"What do you mean we're getting married?! I only just met you! What?! How?! Why…" He wailed.

"Calm down! You're not the only one getting married here! I'm suffering too! I thought your mother would at least tell you… seeing as you're such a mummy's boy…" Lucy rolled her eyes and closed the door, walking over to comfort the 'poor' boy. "There, there." She said firmly.

"That's not helping… But why would they do this to us?!"

"No… this is definitely something my father would do." The words felt like poison in her mouth.

"I'm sorry… I'm being insensitive. Do you know the details about this?"

"Not really. My father just told me that I'm getting married to the Eucliffe family's son for our parents' businesses to expand and he said that we have to have a baby boy to take over the business when he comes of age. That's all I know so far." Lucy shrugged, totally over the fact that she was getting used like an object.

Sting sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "No offence but I really don't want to marry you. You're a great person and beautiful might I add… but I can't just marry you. I know in time that I may learn to care for you, but nothing more than that."

"You took the words right out of my mouth. We better get down before they discuss anymore bullshit without us." Lucy stood up and was about to leave when Sting grabbed hold of her wrist.

"Aren't you going fight back? Rebel? Tell them what you think?"

"Did you really think I got these cuts and bruises from the stairs? Let's be real here. I don't look like a person to just sit there while I get married off. But I guess it was my mistake." The female opened and walked out of the door, not wanting to wait any longer. Hearing Sting scamper behind her, she smiled slightly. Slightly.

They both walked down together, much to Hikaru and Jude's delight.

"Oh so I see you two have warmed up to each other." The business man grinned from ear to ear.

"Yes sir. You could say that." Sting turned sternly to his mother. "We need to have a small talk." Seeing the woman begin to protest, he quickly added, "now."

She reluctantly nodded, knowing what it was going to be about. "Please excuse me Jude. Sting and I just need a moment." She politely relieved herself and her son and walked off.

"So Lucy." Jude started.

"Don't you say anything father. Especially since you can't do anything to me here." She gave him a long hard glare.

"Now, now darling. I was just going to ask you what you thought about the boy."

"Sting?"

"Hm yes. You seem very fond of him, especially when you two were walking down together." He smirked.

"That was just for show." Lucy confessed through gritted teeth.

"Don't you give me attitude young lady. You two will be married. No arguments about it."

The girl scoffed. "That's what you think." She decided to end the conversation there as she noticed Sting and his mother walk in. He had a red cheek.

Hikaru slapped him… She seemed so nice. I guess we're in the same boat.

Sting sat next to Lucy and shuffled around uncomfortably. The adults began conversing once more.

Lucy leaned over and whispered into his ear, "Are you ok? Did you mother hit you?"

The boy shrugged. "She never usually hits me… she was just frustrated that I didn't want to get married to you. I'm fine though. The slap was nothing on the level that your father does to you." He pulled away and gave her a reassuring smile.

"So seeing as both of you agree to this marriage, we'll have you wed by the end of next month." Jude announced.

Both the teens jumped out of their skins.

"But father! We're only 17! When you said I was going to get married, I didn't think you meant right away!"

"Of course he did dear. What other time were you thinking of?" Hikaru asked.

"How about never…" Sting mumbled under his breath.

"Dear! Don't say such things!"

"Sorry mother…"

"So the engagement ball will be this weekend and from that day on you will live here with the Eucliffes until the wedding and then you will find another estate to live in." Jude explained.

"This weekend…" Lucy pondered.

"That's in 3 days!" The two exclaimed.

"And is there a problem with that?" The woman inquired sternly.

"No mother…"

"Lucy? What about you? We need your confirmation on this." Hikaru insisted.

"I'm going to be honest. There is no offence intended in my opinion but I do not feel it is right to get married." Lucy said as formerly as she could.

"Lucy…" Jude's voice became low and raspy. "What have I told you about disobeying my instructions?"

"Those who break the rules get punished…" She murmured.

"Good. I thought I taught you better than this. I don't want to hear a single word of protest from you, understand?"

"Yes father…" Sting looked at Lucy comfortingly and smiled warmly at her.

"There's nothing better than a disciplined child with a stern teaching. Don't you think Hikaru?"

"You took the words right out of my mouth. That's how you must raise them. Otherwise, they'll just rebel against you."

"My thoughts exactly." Jude looked at the solemn duo. "Now lighten up you two! You're going to be engaged in a few days and you need to go get ready immediately. Hikaru will organise the ball and the maids will help with the attire."

The two blondes bit their lip, feeling the tears threatening to fall. Their life had changed. Their dreams had disappeared. Their destiny was rewritten.

"Servants! Please come and help these two prepare!" Hikaru clapped her hands twice and several maids and butlers appeared around them.

"Master Sting, please come with us for your suit fitting." A butler bowed.

"Um… sure. I have a question though. Where will Lucy be sleeping in the duration of her stay with us?"

"In your bedroom of course."

"Of course." He said sarcastically as he turned to Lucy. "I should get going but the maids will take good care of you. I'll see you later." Sting then quickly whispered into her ear, "Don't worry about your father… even though getting married is crap, at least you won't have to deal with his shit ever again… even if we don't love each other." He parted ways and smiled.

Lucy smiled at how kind he was to a stranger like her. Her thoughts were shooed away when a maid began talking to her.

"Lady Lucy. Please come with us to have your dress fitted."

The girl nodded and reluctantly stood up, making sure she didn't forget to glare at her father before leaving. Then, a thought struck her.

Father thinks he's so smart… oh how he's wrong. Your little girl has got a plan…

Stay tuned for the next chapter guys!