Hey guys, just as a little bonus for being so awesome (and hopefully not hating me for psyching you out like I did). Here's a couple scenes that I cut from the story, just for shiggles. (I'm sharing them for shiggles. They were cut for reasons.) The first scene I cut and rewrote after I decided that Gray would eventually be Lucy's almost-husband. In the original draft, they were going to be step siblings. The second one was a continuation of the scene where Ellie, Lucy's predecessor, first sees Natsu. Eventually I decided that I liked where I cut it off and just 'tossed' the other part.

Have fun, thanks for the love, and as always, happy reading.

A knock on her door interrupted her thoughts. "Hey, Lucy?" It was her brother, Gray. "Your father asked that I escort you down to the hall. Can I come in?"

Glancing down to make sure her dress hung evenly, she called out, "Yes, you can come in."

Gray entered the room with his usual confident stride. He wore a dark blue jacket over a white shirt, with black slacks and shoes. His dark hair, which was usually a little spikey, was slicked back with a side part. He smiled as she moved towards him. "Well you look great, as always."

"You look pretty good yourself," she smiled back.

He scoffed as he held out arm. "My hair looks ridiculous."

"Maybe you should cut it," she said, putting her arm through his.

"I only did this to appease your father. I'd rather not start a war with him over my hair." He walked with her into the hall, closing the door behind them. "So, are you ready for tonight? Which one is this, number 21?"

"23, but Father said this will be the last one for a few nights," she said, walking comfortably at his side.

"That could change by morning."

She sighed. "I know. I'm trying to be hopeful."

Gray had only been her stepbrother for a few years, but she was so very glad that he was around. His mother, Ur, and her father had married shortly after Gray's father had died. While their parents didn't get along too well, by tying herself to the king of Fiore, Ur had helped prevent a scuffle with a rival kingdom that shared a border with theirs in the north.

Gray had of course taken over for his father, but he frequently came to Crocus to talk to his mother when she was here. He had just turned 21 the month before, so he still asked her help from time to time when he was feeling overwhelmed.

"Have you met anyone you like yet?"

"Well…" She thought back to the last few weeks. Most of the men she'd met had either been much older than her or really boring. She hadn't met one yet that she felt she'd be able to connect with or would want to raise children with.

Lucy wasn't a fool; she knew she wasn't going to find a love match, but she wanted someone she could get along with. Someone she could talk to, who she would enjoy spending time with, and could grow to care for some day.

"To be honest, I don't think so. There was one, I think his name was Freed, who might work out. We had a really nice talk about books and a variety of subjects, but he seemed a little withdrawn. He's from one of the smaller countries though, I'm not sure Father would go along with that choice."

They'd made it to the grand staircase and started down. "If you're meeting them, doesn't that mean they've already been approved by him?"

"I'm not so sure. Duke Everlue made it onto the list."

Gray visibly shuddered. "Alright, you may be right. There isn't a soul alive that would marry their daughter to that… that…"

Lucy laughed out loud as Gray struggled to find a words to describe that particular duke. She was still laughing as they rounded the corner. They paused as the two men in the room turned their way. Initially ignoring the stranger, Lucy looked at her father. He was trying not to show it, but he was furious. Looking at the other man, she realized he looked nothing like the man described to her earlier in the day. He was probably a stand-in for her wouldbe suitor, which her father was obviously upset about.

She held back her sigh. This was going to be a long evening.

After she politely refused the lord who had stopped to ask her to dance, she looked across the dance floor. The man with the pink hair was gone, and as she scoured the room, she didn't see him. Disappointment bloomed in her chest and she wondered why she was so upset when she had no idea who the man was.

She wished she had something to drink and just as she started looking around for someone, a flute of champagne appeared in front of her face. Thinking one of the waiters had noticed, she looked up to thank him, only to realize it was the man with the pink hair.

He was grinning at her, a devilish look in his dark eyes. She got lost in them for a moment, certain she'd never seen eyes so dark in her life. When he waved the glass a little, she realized she had been staring and took the flute with a blush. "Thank you."

"No problem, my lady." He bowed at her, his hand held to his chest. "My name is Natsu Dragneel. It's nice to meet you."