Hi guys! ;)

This is a re-written version of my old story which I took down before.

Hope you like it!

It had been a really long day for Layla Heartfilia. She just got back from work when Igneel had invited her over for dinner. Of course, she couldn't refuse. This was her best friend and their family.

Layla wanted to relax for once.

And so she took a choice.

"Igneel? I'll be there." and the blond walked off towards the curb. A slim hand waved towards an incoming taxi.

"Mavis street please." she climbed in and shut the door behind her. Then the female took out her phone and texted her husband.

Layla- I'm going to Igneel's for dinner. Get some take-out for you and Lucy. I'll be home at 9:00.

And the stressed out woman sighed while leaning back. Hopefully, the night would help her calm back down.

Layla- Lucy, honey, I'm going over to Igneel's tonight. Go make sure your father orders some food and I'll be back at 9:00. Love you.

Lucy- Sure mom. Tell Igneel I said hi. ;)

Layla just felt so much better talking to her daughter. Even if she wasn't with her too often, Lucy was still that little girl she loved and played with. But with so much work now, their family was falling apart. That little golden child was closing off. The mother could tell. But Lucy wouldn't speak or budge.

And Jude. She sighed once more. He was just... boxed up. When they had gotten married, she just felt like flying. Layla just knew this would be the best time of her life.

But when Lucy came... things just started breaking. The wife was happier than ever. But the husband...

He started becoming more closed off. Now, she couldn't even go through a texting session without him suddenly leaving. Truthfully, the woman wasn't sure of anything.

And she was sure as hell that this life was seriously messed up right now.

"It's alright Igneel, I'm sure the storm isn't too bad." Layla tried convincing her best friend.

"Nonsense. The news says that no one is supposed to go outside right now. You'll just have to stay the night." he stood his ground.

"But Lucy-"

"You can call her. I'm sure she wouldn't want her own mother to get caught up in this storm." Igneel said. The worried woman groaned. But she knew when it was over.

Her fingers dialed a number. She waited for Lucy to come on.

"Yes?" a shaking voice spoke.

"Lucy!" Layla exclaimed, not noticing the tone of her daughter's voice.

"Oh, mom." she replied.

"I'm afraid I'll have to stay at Igneel's for the night. Apparently," she shot a glare to the man.

"-This storm is too big for me to handle. I can take a taxi home in the morning though." the brown eyed female finished.

"I-it's ok mom. Just come back in the morning ok?" and Layla took note of the fear mixed into the replies from Lucy.

"Is everything alright over there?" she asked worriedly.

The female could have sworn she heard a gruff voice on the other line.

Just then there was a noise. The phone had dropped onto the ground. Shuffling could be heard.

"No, I'm good mom. See you tomorrow." and the girl hung up.

"W-wait," but it was too late. There was a frown upon her pretty face when she took the phone away from her ear.

"What's wrong?" her friend came over. He had left to grab something and came back to see his old friend with a furrowed brow.

"Lucy seemed... tense. Is that supposed to be normal?" the brown eyed lady asked while staring at the electronic device in her hands.

"I'm not too sure. But you can confront her about it tomorrow." he stated.

"Yes, but this already happened once before and Lucy didn't tell me anything." she spoke slowly while deep in thought. Igneel was quiet for a moment.

"I'll talk to her for you. Maybe she needs someone else to ask her about it." he spoke.

"Maybe. I really have no idea what to do these days." Layla looked into his dark eyes.

"I'll go see her. It's part of my job. After all, Lucy is my daughter too." he grinned at that. And it was true. Igneel looked after Lucy ever since she was born. Although the man had noticed Jude's unhappiness towards him, nothing had ever been said about it. So the red haired male just took more caution when interacting with the other.

Igneel thought of himself as a second father to Lucy, but he had never heard about this...although it did make sense.

Lucy didn't come over or talk to him anymore. Igneel always tried to see her again but to no avail. Nothing worked.

"You should go to sleep. She expects you in the morning." he said softly.

"Alright then. Good night Igneel." and she went up the steps to her room. That left the thinking man alone downstairs.

Why was Lucy acting like this? And why was Jude so closed off now? From what the red haired father had heard, Layla didn't even know what was wrong with her husband anymore.

It was really strange.

"Dad?"

The male turned around to see his pink haired son standing at the foot of the stairs.

"Natsu."

Igneel suddenly realized something. Natsu and Lucy had never met before. That was surprising. Oh well. The guy could just set them up together one day. Who knew? Maybe Layla could be his sister.

"Uh, dad?"

The daydreaming man snapped back.

"Yeah?" he managed to speak.

"Why's Layla staying here?" his son asked sleepily.

"There's a storm outside. She'll go in the morning." Igneel spoke absentmindedly.

His son just nodded a bit and yawned. Then, a noise suddenly penetrated the silence. Natsu scrambled for his phone. When he finally fished it out of his pocket, the boy looked at the caller ID and sighed.

"Yeah Lisanna?"

Oh. That was right. The guy had a girlfriend.

"I'm going to bed right now."

Igneel's eyes furrowed. He was sure he had taught his idiot son a few things about women before.

Rule number one: Don't snap at them.

"OK. Night." and the male turned around to go back upstairs.

"I thought you had manners young man. Don't snap at your girlfriend." Igneel called after him. The onyx eyed teen turned around and looked at his dad.

"Girlfriend?...I don't even know who she is anymore." and Natsu slipped out of sight.

*blink*

The man groaned. Why did all the stuff have to happen with HIM? Just then, another ringtone came up.

"Honey?"

"Yeah. How's Wendy?"

Not to mention his prized cook/wife was away on a trip. The man looked over at the pizza boxes left on the dining table. Good thing Layla loved simple food. His eyes then turned to the dirty dishes in the sink.

"Huh? No no. Everything is just great."

First chappie over. I hope you guys think this has improved.

I certainly feel better about it.

Feedback? Better or worse?

Love all of you. ;)

(Your just so frickin awesome *sparkle*)

-SkyFairies