Betrothed by Force

Hi! Um, well this is my first multichapter Fairy Tail story, so I hope you like it! If it's good enough, I'll continue it.

"Miss Lucy!" a voice called, "You're father would like to see you!"

Lucy Heartfilia, the age of nineteen, stood up from her seat as she curiously stepped outside her door.

"What for?" she asked.

"I don't know," the maid replied, "All Juvia heard was that it was important."

Important, yeah, right.

She made her way down the long corridor, stopping at the grand, mahogany door and knocking gently. They opened by two his advisors as she hesitantly walked in, her heels clicking on the marble floor.

"You summoned me, Father?" Lucy Heartfilia asked curiously, a downcast look in her eyes as she looked down at the floor.

Jude Heartfilia never asked for his daughter unless it was something important. After the death of Lucy's mother, him and his daughter had become quite distant in their relationship. He would pile himself up with work to busy himself and forget about the world, his deceased wife, and sadly his daughter, who was a spitting image of her mother. Lucy could barely even look him in the eyes anymore.

The teenaged blonde looked down. She'd been called upon by her father, big CEO of Heartfilia Railways. It was one of those rare occasions that they were in the same room together, let alone even talking amongst each other.

"Yes, Lucy, come here," he beckoned, making her sit at the client's seat of his office.

"What's the issue that you have called upon?" she inquired, "What's so important that you interrupted me of my studies?"

"Lucy, dear, as you know, Heartfilia Railways is the biggest company in all of Fiore. Our rival company, Dragneel Industries, has given us an offer that I couldn't resist. I believe it will benefit us as well as the Dragneels greatly."

"Is that all you wanted to talk about?" Lucy asked, raising an eyebrow at the middle-aged man, "All you wanted to do was to boast about your success? Father, there are clearly a bunch of servants and staff you may brag about to. Why me?"

"Ah, well, you see, Lucy, you play a very important part in this," Jude explained, trying to convince his daughter.

"And why must I play a part in this?" she interrogated furiously, "What have you done that is so important that you have to bring me into this? Answer me!" She was furious now.

"Lucy, you are not allowed to speak to your father like that! I command you to stop this nonsense at once!" he ordered.

"And why should I?" she shot back, choking back tears, "What have you ever done that has helped me!? It's always about your work. You never have time for me anymore, father, and all you expect me to do is be supportive of you?"

"ENOUGH, LUCY!" the businessman bellowed, "Where did you learn such attitude like that? I thought I raised you properly enough to be etiquette! This is not what I deserve!"

"And this isn't what I deserve," Lucy mumbled, "You expect me to be this person that I'm not."

"I've had enough of your whining. Dragneel Industries has offered to merge with Heartfilia Railways. It will make us unstoppable, but there is a catch to this," he informed.

"And what's the catch?" Lucy inquired bluntly, looking at her newly painted cuticles.

"That you be betrothed to their son, Natsu Dragneel. You will be married in one year's time," her father answered.

And that sent Lucy into an uproar. She looked up, angry and furious as the anger that built up inside her might as well just exploded.

"What? Marriage! I refuse, father! I greatly oppose!" she screeched, the maids at their backs cringing at the young maiden's yelling.

"You may not, refuse, Lucy!" he spoke, "For the decision has already been made. You are to be married to Natsu Dragneel whether you like it or not!"

"Natsu Dragneel?" Lucy questioned, "Have you even met him, Father? What if I don't love him!? How can we get married then, huh?"

"You will love him, and you will get married, Lucy! This is final!" he shouted. He turned to his teenaged daughter of nineteen, a young woman, glassy tears in her eyes.

Tears then started to stream down her face. This isn't what she wanted; this isn't what she wanted at all. She wanted to marry someone out of love, trying to keep the possible suitors away by threatening them and weirding them out, which she has done a good job with. This was all because of her father, the greedy man of middle age, obsessed with work, not even caring for his one and only daughter. She hated having to live this misery of her life, preferring rather to be loved than have all the money in the world. How she longed for that opportunity.

"I hate you!" she cried out, her father taken aback with the amount of rage and passion in her voice, "You never think of how I feel! It always has to be about the money, my education, and the suitor to be my husband! What game are you trying to play?! This is an injustice! I refuse to marry this Natsu Dragneel!"

He didn't even flinch. Deep down inside, Jude honestly didn't care.

And she took off, running away crying.

-X-

On the other hand, one would say Natsu Dragneel and his family took things with a more positive approach. He was told around the exact same time as Lucy, but his reaction was totally different.

"Natsu!" a redheaded maid piped up, popping her head into the room of the pinkette, "Your father would like to speak with you!"

"Tell the old man I don't wanna," he whined, burying his face in his pillow, hating that he was awoken from a good nap, an uninterested tone in his voice, "He can deal with my problems later- AH! WHAT THE HECK, ERZA!"

The redhead shook him hard, Natsu jumping from the impact, her an unusual aura emitted out of her that only came when she was angry, which of course, according to Natsu, was a lot.

"Natsu Dragneel! I will not withstand your immaturity any longer! Your father demands to see you now, even if I must drag you to his office!" she barked a furious shout, Natsu's regaining his posture and standing like one of the soldiers that guarded his house up front.

"Aye, sir!" he wailed cowardly, "I-I'll report to my father this instant!"

He sprinted to the hallway of his father's office, barging in loudly, an unfazed look on his father's face. He was quite used to this by now. Igneel, who was filing his paperwork, looked up seeing the pink mess of hair known as his son. He looked at him with disappointment, for his son, being the nineteen years of age he is, still dressed and had the mental age of a ten-year-old. Sighing, he gestured for Natsu to sit down, Natsu taking his seat as he propped one of his legs in top of the other in a comfortable position.

"Did Erza come get you?" he questioned, a frown on his face.

"Yes," Natsu shuddered in fear, "Why did you hire her anyway?"

"She seemed nice. Plus, I needed someone like that to discipline you since you never listen," the redheaded businessman spoke.

"You wanted something, old man?" he asked bluntly, a bored expression on his face. Natsu really hated this type of stuff.

"Yes, son, I did," Igneel sighed, sitting up straight in his chair before leaning towards his son, "Natsu, you do know about Heartfilia Railways, don't you?"

"That rival company of yours?" he inquired questioningly, "The one with the man with blonde hair?"

"Yes," the businessman replied, "I have made an offer with them that will merge our companies together."

"Merge our companies together? Can't you only do that through like marriage or something since both heirs have to make that decision?" Natsu continued, "How could you do that- Wait, Dad! You're not marrying his wife are you? That's a sin!"

"No, Natsu, I'm not going to marry his wife. I'm not stupid, and plus she's been deceased for years," Igneel explained carefully, "Jude has a daughter on the other hand, Lucy, who like you is the heir of her father's company."

"When did a girl get into this conversation?" Natsu pointed out obliviously, "I thought we were talking about the merging of companies and marriage and-"

"Natsu," he scolded.

"Dad, this is-"

"Natsu! Enough!" he yelled before calming down, "Since both of you are the heirs, you are betrothed to Lucy and will marry her in the time span of a year. I've already discussed this and the decision is final."

Natsu's eyes widened in shock. Marry a girl he didn't even know? A wedding? Wait, weddings meant tons of food, right? He was totally fine with this as he smiled. He couldn't wait for food, especially of Mira would prepare a banquet!

"Okay," Natsu cheered happily, "I'm alright with that. I can't wait actually!"

Igneel looked at his son like he was crazy, his eyes widened and alert. He was sure Natsu was going to protest, the boy never loving a girl before nor ever having a girlfriend or even bringing one home. This reaction wasn't what he expected at all. But his suspicions were correct after asking Natsu a question.

"Natsu, why do you want to get married?" Igneel sighed, putting his head in his hands. This wasn't going to be good.

"So I can eat Mira's food!" he cheered happily, pumping a fist in the air. His father, on the other hand, had a completely different reaction as he banged his head on the desk before regaining his normality back.

"Natsu, I need you to promise me something," he said, placing his head in his hands.

"What is it, old man? I don't break promises," Natsu informed.

Igneel looked him dead in the eye and he told him, "Natsu, no matter what, I need you to promise me to love Lucy and do no matter what it takes to make her happy. She's a very sweet girl that doesn't need any more pain. Do you understand me?"

"I understand completely," Natsu promised, different scenarios going through his head already, even if he didn't even know this girl named Lucy.

"Good. We meet her and her father for lunch tomorrow. I expect you to be on your best behavior, Natsu, or I will make Erza put on your best behavior," he threatened, making the boy freeze in his spot. He chuckled before patting the pink spikes on Natsu's head and walking out the door.

His son was a lot of work, but he'll manage.

-X-

"Lucy-chan!" Levy piped up as the tiny bluenette skipped into the blonde's room happily, "Wake up! Your fiance will be here in a couple of hours!"

Lucy groaned, flipping to her other side because she refused to be disturbed. Levy frowned, but determined, she splashed the cup of water on Lucy's bedside on her, making Lucy jump immediately.

"What the heck, Levy-chan?" Lucy grumbled, "First of all, he's not my fiancé, and secondly, never wake me up like that again!"

Levy giggled, "You're such a deep sleeper though! I had no choice!"

Lucy rolled her eyes as she got out of bed, putting on the pink, fancy dress her father forced her to wear. She turned to look at herself, and even she had to admit she looked good. Levy helped Lucy with her hair, pinning it up into a single ponytail that tied her shoulder-length hair together.

"You look beautiful, Lu-chan," she gasped.

The blonde took look at herself in the mirror. This wasn't who she was at all. She was just Lucy, who loved to read, write, and be herself, not a rich girl getting married to some idiot she was just meeting today. She pondered over and recollected her thoughts. Looking over her shoulder, she had realized that Levy had left the room. Lucy smiled as she thought of her tiny, blue-haired best friend who happened to be one of her maids. Levy was one of the only people Lucy trusted, probably let alone the only person she did trust. The two were always there for each other.

She walked down the long, majestic staircase to the big wooden doors that were the exit to her home, only to be stopped by the guards that were on the watch at that time.

"I'm sorry, Miss Lucy," the one named Capricorn apologized, "but we have strict orders from your father to not allow you outdoors."

"And why not?" she insisted, "Why won't he let me outside? Aren't there guards there too?"

"Yes, but-"

"What? What's so important that he won't let me outside to visit my mother, his wife's, grave?" she demanded, "It's not like I'll do anything bad. I can't escape this place anyways."

"I know, Miss Lucy, but-"

"You can't leave because of that stupid, fiancé of yours," the guard named Loke finished, "I should have been the one to marry you, my love!"

"That's not happening," Lucy scolded, "I care for you, Loke, but not romantically. You know that by now, don't you?"

"Lucy, I- HEY, LUCY!" Loke called out to the blonde, "What are you doing? Are you suicidal or something? Get back here before your father slits our throats!"

"Don't worry about it; I'll be back! If not, I'll deal with him personally, I swear!" she called back, running off to visit Layla's grave as her high-heeled shoes clicked on the pavement to the garden.

"She better," Loke grumbled to Capricorn, "How did she get past us anyways? I can't lose my job because of this!"

"Because you're a lovestruck, gullible fool," he replied, "And I wasn't paying attention. I thought you were going to take care of her."

They both sighed.

-X-

"Why do I have to wear this stupid tie anyways?" Natsu complained to his father as he fiddled with the uncomfortable, choking piece of cloth around his neck. Thankfully, his father allowed him to wear his scarf so he was fine with it for the most part. Still, he hated this thing.

"Natsu," he ordered, "Please stop this nonsense. We're almost at Lucy's house anyways."

As if on cue, the limousine pulled up to a big, majestic mansion with the grand entrance and the iron gates. Two men halted their care, asking for their identity before allowing them to enter. Natsu gaped in awe. He had never seen a house bigger than his before.

"Igneel!" his father was greeted once he stepped out of the car. A man around his father's age with blonde hair stepped out to greet him.

"Jude! It's great to see you again!" the redheaded businessman said back to his former rival, "This is my son, Natsu. Natsu, this is Jude, Lucy's father."

"Nice to meet you, sir," the pinkette greeted, offering the man a smile.

"You seem like a lovely boy, Natsu," Jude told him, "Lucy's outside in the garden at the back. Apparently, she slipped by the guards again. Why don't you go meet her?"

"Will do, sir," Natsu replied before making a beeline for the garden, sprinting as he ran around to the back of the mansion.

He was curious to see this girl. The one named Lucy.

-X-

Lucy kneeled down in front of her mother's grave and stared at the engravings. She burst into tears as they streamed down her face and cried silently to herself.

"I never wanted any of this to happen, mom. I always wanted to marry out of love, not because of father's selfish reasons. What if I don't love him?" she whispered, placing down the bouquet Miss Spetto had set up for her this morning. "I wish you were here. I wish you could help me through this!"

"Yo!" an unfamiliar voice called out to her in the distance.

She whipped around seeing a mass of pink spikes and attached to them, a boy around her age with a white scarf around his neck running to her. Lucy squinted. Could she be dreaming? Was this the man she was to be married to? Or was he just another pervert that would stalk her?

He came up to her, a broad smile across his face. She couldn't help but stare at him. In her mind, he was very...interesting looking, though handsome at the same time.

"Are you Lucy?" he questioned.

"And what if I am?" she retorted back, rolling her eyes, trying not to blush.

"I'm Natsu," he introduced himself, holding out his hand to her which she hesitantly took. They were calloused but surprisingly soft and gentle.

"Nice to meet you, Natsu," she said back.

They could only stare at each other with a blush coating their cheeks, minutes passing of not saying any words nor moving. They were frozen, eyes locked to each other. Natsu buried his face in his scarf, hoping Lucy wouldn't notice his blush. Thankfully, the blonde was looking away from him as he sighed in relief.

And that's when the mutual attraction started.