Leo: Cousin Dear!

Leo

by

Lou.D

Summary: Lucy Heartfilia is a rich young heiress and an aspiring writer. On her mother's 15th death anniversary, she receives a very special heirloom. Little did she know that her life was about to be turned upside down forever!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Fairy Tail characters. I wish I had Jellal and Leo! sighs

Chapter 6: Cousin Dear!

Lucy couldn't help but think of Jellal, her cousin. The truth was extremely shocking, and Lucy couldn't process anything in her state. Her mind had shut off. Her aunt Miranda was actually a Celestial mage who had somehow turned against the rest including her mother. Lucy felt herself being shaken and she looked up to see Leo's lips moving.

"Lucy! Get a hold of yourself!" he said, while shaking the young blonde. She had gone quiet and pale; it made him anxious to see her in such a daze.

His words somehow got to her, and she looked at him this time, as if seeing him for the first time. Then, Jellal's handsome face crossed her mind and she snapped. "Mom! Auntie! Jellal!" she said in a weak, trembling voice.

Leo knew that it was too much to be revealed at once, but he had no choice. He hugged his summoner then, trying to comfort her. He felt her small body tremble more, and he regretted telling her the truth.

Lucy was lying on her bed. She looked at the ceiling, then her surrounding, and frowned. She wondered when she had got to her room. Her eyes drifted to the door, when someone knocked.

"Come in," she called, tiredly.

The door opened and Jude walked in, joined by the grandmother.

"Lucy dear," the latter said, walking slowly towards her. "You're awake," she added.

"How are you feeling, now?" Jude asked worriedly.

Lucy looked at them. "Better, I guess," she replied. "I've just woken up, but I don't remember coming back home!" She added, giving Amelia a confused look.

The old woman sat slowly on her bed and watched her granddaughter with concern. She held Lucy's hand while her blue eyes studied her face closely. "Of course you don't. You had fainted. Your friend had brought you back home," she explained.

Lucy's eyes widened with shock. "I fainted! My friend?!" her eyebrows furrowed, as she tried recalling what had happened to her. "I don't remember anything. I might ask Leo lat..! Wait, he was the one with me... No way! He can DRIVE!" Her mouth hanged open in shock.

Amelia watched the gaping girl with rising concern while Jude became irritated with her theatrics. "Close your mouth, before you'll catch a fly!" he lectured annoyed with her comical behavior.

As if burned, she closed her mouth and smiled sheepishly, cheeks flushed. "Sorry," she said, face burning now.

Her grandmother sighed. "Lucy dear, you shouldn't behave in such a way anymore. You're too old for that!" She remarked.

Lucy nodded, not uttering a word. She was extremely embarrassed. "Damn."

"Anyway, and as saying, your friend called when you fainted, informing me of everything. I asked him to give me your whereabouts so we could send the driver, but he refused politely." The old woman smiled before she added, "he insisted on bringing you himself. What a gallant man!"

Her lips stretched slowly into a smile. It was touching and Lucy felt deep down happy and grateful for his help and concern. "I'm sorry for giving you both such a fright. Thank goodness he was with me," she admitted looking at them.

"You should take a break from work. You don't look well," Jude said.

Lucy nodded.

"And you need to bring him home soon," Amelia said.

Lucy's almost fell off her bed. She looked stupidly at her grandmother. "Huh?" she replied unintelligently.

Both elders twitched in annoyance. They secretly prayed that her temporary weirdness would fade soon.

"Why?" she retorted quickly, feeling nervous.

"He seems to be a wise man. Your grandmother has told me about him. And I am interested into meeting him," he explained, studying her composure thoroughly. "He is a new friend, I suppose?" he asked again.

"Yes, father!" Lucy wondered how he could tell.

"The more reason to invite him," Amelia said, shifting her gaze between the two. "We would like to thank him properly this time, Lucy. If it weren't for him, God only knows what could have happened to you!"

Lucy stared at her grandmother, as if she had grown another head. Amelia's suggestion was just "crazy" as Lucy thought.

"You want me to invite him, as in for dinner?!" she asked incredulously.

"That would be a good idea," her father commented, approving the suggestion.

Lucy wanted then to face palm herself. She wanted to protest, but stopped when she thought about it. "For the love of! How can I bring Leo to meet them?! He is a spirit for crying out loud! And they want to meet him! But, why?! Thank him properly, huh! My butt! These two are just up to something!" She narrowed her eyes at her grandmother.

"Is something wrong, child?" The old woman asked, sensing her hesitancy.

"No. Everything's fine. I will… call him first. He's… a busy man. I need to check with him and see if he is free," she replied, hoping her white lie would deter them somehow from their request.

"A busy man?!" her father asked, in a tone that Lucy knew too well.

She cringed visibly: apparently, she had raised her father's interest in Leo. Jude simply admired busy men! Lucy sighed heavily when she realized her mistake. She knew it was futile to argue or lie more now. Her family would simply suspect her if she refused. "Yeah, he is. Don't worry, I'm sure he'll accept. No one can refuse an invitation by the Heartfilias," she said after a moment, feeling utterly defeated.

"Wonderful," her grandmother replied, too happily. She cast Jude a quick glance, before adding, "I'm looking forward to meeting him again. Invite him for tomorrow, will you?" she said rising slowly from the bed. Looking once more at her granddaughter, she advised, "I will send for Mary to assist you. The doctor will be here soon."

Lucy didn't bother replying. She watched them both leave her room. She looked at the ceiling and groaned.

Jellal was in the midst of a meeting. He sat listening to the new transferee, a voluptuous purple haired woman who was now giving some statistics about their recent progress in the campaign. Since joining his office, all eyes have been set on her. Men and women, young and old, all talked about her. Men desired her, her beauty, intelligence, confidence and most of all her body, while women envied her to no end.

Ultear Milkovich was the same age as him, but she was far more experienced in life and her job compared to the older women in the field. Jellal knew he had a fine jewel in his grasp, as one of his sponsors had told him once. He knew she could have been an awesome leader, if she had chosen to have her own party. But no, Ultear was the shadowy type: a real puppet master.

Ultear turned around to highlight the chart that was being displayed on the white screen. He noticed her delicious perky derrière that was being exposed, and felt his throat go dry. His eyes snapped back to her head, as Ultear turned back around, facing them again. He almost cursed when her dark eyes suddenly sought his for a minute before they moved to the rest of the audience. She went on explaining more ignoring him for the time being.

Suddenly, the door opened, and a secretary walked to Jellal. She whispered something quickly in his ear, before she left the room. Jellal stood up quickly. He gestured to his assistant, Ultear, to head the meeting in his stead.

Ultear smiled knowingly.

He sat at his desk and picked up the phone. "Hello," he said.

"Hello Jellal," a woman's voice could be heard at the other end of the line.

"Ah, Lucy," he smiled. "That's a nice surprise! How have you been?" he asked.

Lucy smiled on the other end. "Been good. I'm on a break now and I felt like calling you," she said.

Jellal smiled toothily. He was delighted to have her call him. It pleased him greatly. "Let me call you from another line, so we can talk in private," he added quickly.

"Okay," she replied. She knew he was happy. She rarely called him and when she did, it was usually about work with her father. Her phone rang again and she picked it up, "hello again."

Jellal smiled more. "Hello dear. Tell me, to what honor do I owe this call?" he teased.

Lucy bit her lip, relishing in his alluring voice. "I have been thinking of you, Jellal. And I thought a call would brighten your day," she replied, blushing slightly.

Jellal couldn't believe his ears. Lucy had actually thought of him and called to wonder about his well-being. "Things have certainly changed," he though. He leaned in his rotating chair and said, "you are my savior, Lucy." He paused to hear her laugh. Jellal chuckled in turn, before he resumed, "I am so stressed, and my dear Lucy has finally bestowed me with some of her precious time. Aren't I the luckiest guy on earth?"

Lucy laughed again, before she replied, "perhaps!"

He laughed more before he sighed. Running a hand through his silky blue locks, he spoke in a low tone, "how's everyone?"

"They are well. Thank you."

Jellal glanced at his desk clock, then asked. "Are you still working?"

Lucy rolled her eyes. The guy could sometimes be really clueless to her needs. Her lips stretched slyly. "nah, I'm in my bed now, relaxing and talking to you. While you, poor thing, are so stressed and overworked," she breathed.

Jellal nodded imagining her sleeping in her bed and whispering to him. "Ahh, Lucy! Wish I could take a break for a moment! But, I can't!" he went quiet for a moment then he blurted, "I know why you have called now!"

Lucy heard his raspy voice, and her heart skipped a beat. Jellal was the smartest guy she has ever known in her life. "You do?" she asked, curious.

He smiled again, "you are lying in your bed, not doing anything, I suppose, when you have suddenly decided to call me…. You miss me!"

On the other end, Lucy was blushing like a schoolgirl. "Jellal?" she asked sensually.

The poor guy swallowed hard. She hadn't given him a reply yet. He waited patiently for her answer. "Yeah?" he encouraged.

"I miss you," she admitted.

He was satisfied. "Finally," he thought. "I miss you too, Lucy," he admitted in turn. Today was just one of the best days in his life. She is finally admitting her feelings, instead of her constant flirting. If things progress, he might be able to date her with her father's approval.

"Won't you come home? I want to see you," she said in her sweet voice.

Jellal was burning. He wished he could skip everything and fly to his beloved cousin. He glanced at the door, then at the clock, then at the door again, before he made up his mind.

"I'll be on my way soon, Lucy. Wait for me," he said, standing up.

Lucy smiled. She closed her eyes, "I will."

He hung up the phone, quickly. He felt fresh and alive again. Lucy was what he needed, body and soul. He looked at the door again; the meeting was still taking place. Jellal smirked; he was up and ready to lead his followers to success again.

Lou.D