A Second Chance, chapter 0; Prologue

The long and exhausted car drive, all the way to their new house seems to ceaselessly go on without an end. Nevertheless, that did not prevent the dark haired male behind the steering wheel of the black, Sedan Honda vehicle from continue on with his destination.

Pressing a hand over his mouth in effort of stifling a yawn from escaping his lips, twenty – nine year old Zeref Dragneel attempts to refocus his attention back on the road ahead of him, as he drove down the highway of the average, suburban town of Magnolia.

However, he was starting to begin to think that perhaps driving all the way from Crocus straight up to Magnolia was not really the best idea. In fact, he was beginning to wish that he had not declined his brother's offer on flying straight to Crocus to drive both him and his daughter back to Magnolia.

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Natsu had insisted with him that it would be no trouble at all, but Zeref had reasoned, saying that he and Iris would be fine and that he had done this before, when he decide to left his hometown and went to live in Alvarez ten long years ago.

And so, it would not be too much issue for him. That, and Zeref did not really want to take his brother away from his pregnant wife and their two children at the moment.

Lucy, his sister-in-law was less than two months away from her due date and by personal experience Zeref remembered when his own wife was pregnant with Iris and how she hadn't wanted him to be away from her more than a few hours at the point in her pregnancy.

He had no intention of putting Lucy through the exact same thing.

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Sneaking a quick look over at the seven-year-old in question who was sleeping soundly at the back in the passenger seat, Zeref couldn't help but let out a tired but loving smile grace his features at the serene sight of seeing his precious daughter fast asleep.

The little girl in question was curled up into her favorite purple blanket with her short, chin-length hair spread out slightly over the soft fabric of her lilac pillow. Iris Dragneel was like a young female replica of her own father with her deep ebony hair and fair complexion.

Although Zeref could proudly say that his daughter had indeed inherited a lot from him in concerning appearance, some of her personality traits he could say, she had innate right from her mother's side.

Casting a worried glance back at the sleeping girl at the back of the car, Zeref pondered for the millionth time in his mind, just how his daughter would do living in an average town like Magnolia after growing up in a large city like Alvarez.

Even though, Iris was not as much of a city-girl as her mother has been back then. The little girl did not have so many friends to begin with and she would mostly spends her time indoors rather than outside.

So therefore during the weekends when his schedule were free; Zeref, along with his wife would occasionally take her out to the park, thinking it would do her some good for her to interact with other kids her own age.

Furthermore, he would arranged for their family to have at least a week of vacation out in the countryside every year, just so to get away from all the city life. Needless to say, these where both some of the times that Iris genuinely loved the most growing up in Alvarez. But it did not stop him from feeling apprehensive over the well being of his daughter.

"No, that's not it." He thought internally to himself.

Being in the country was not what Zeref was worried about. It was the fact that they were moving away to a new home when a part of it felt like it was still missing. Releasing a deep sigh through his nose, the ebony haired male reminds himself for the last time that it was for the best.

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Last year was very tough for the both of them after they lost Isabella to a car accident.

No matter where they went, no matter what they do, they were both always reminded of all the times they spend together, back when their family was... complete, for lack of better words.

But while Zeref did managed to slowly but eventually accept the grief of losing his beloved Isabella over time, it did not stop the feeling of emptiness that torments him every time he came home from work with Iris and doesn't found the longing presence of his beautiful wife, waiting for them.

What's more, Iris; herself wasn't handling very well with the loss of her mother. At her funeral wasn't any better. Just the look on the poor girl's face as she watched helplessly with tears in her eyes as they lay her mother's coffin into ground was heartbreaking as it is. Furthermore, after that; the young girl eventually stopped smiling, laughing and even talking altogether. And she is often seen with a sad and unhappy look on her face.

And so, after a year without Isabella, Zeref finally decided that they need to leave Alvarez.

The final straw had been when he finally did noticed the unmistakable miserable look on his daughter's face when he was called in to come to Iris's school by her teacher, after she had stopped performing well in class.

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Zeref has always felt guilty for never taking noticed of his daughter's emotional state in the beginning and tends to blame it upon his job as a lawyer. But deep down, he knew it was his own negligence alone, from burying himself into his work which has caused this to happen.

He had talked the situation over with his brother, and Natsu along with Lucy had supported him in his decision to move back to Magnolia; saying that it would rather be for the best... especially for Iris.

So therefore, after resigning from his job with a heavy heart, Zeref decided that they would leave the city and start over back in his hometown... just the two of them, together. A new beginning was just what they needed. That way, Iris could make more happy memories without the weight of her mother's ghost hanging over her.

And perhaps then, she could remember Isabella with a smile instead of a frown. That was what he was hoping to achieve here in Magnolia.

However... it would not be an easy task to accomplish. Zeref knew full well just how scary it is to move away to a new place.

After all, he was only nineteen when he left his small hometown to go live in the city, in order to finish his degree and pursue his career as a district attorney. While he had been independent without anyone to rely upon, Iris would different.

Not only will she have him, but as well as her favorite uncle and aunt; Natsu and Lucy, her two cousins; Nashi and Ryuu who are more than happy to see her again and lastly, their future sibling that is due to be born in couple of days now.

Iris would be surrounded by her family and she would know that every day she is loved by them all. And Zeref would do anything in his power to make absolute certain of it.

The poor girl had gone through a lot with her mother's untimely death and she deserves to be happy once again. Feeling a new sense of determination in his mind, Zeref felt a wave of newly found faith filled his very being as a bright grin spread over his face.

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End of Prologue

Losing people you love affects you. It is buried inside of you and becomes this big, deep hole of ache. It doesn't magically go away, even when you stop officially mourning.

Carrie Jones