A/N: I know I know, I wrote this story like eight months ago and said it was going to be a one-shot but I remembered some people asked for a second part and honestly when I wrote the first part I originally planned for there to be a second part so I thought why not? Never mind the fact it only took me forever to get gonig with the second part! But whatever here ya go!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or it's characters. Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima.
If Lucy had thought explaining to Gray and Juvia that their child was going to accompany them to her rich family's reunion posed as her child with her husband, was going to be easy than she was dead wrong. She paced nervously in Natsu's apartment, Ultear sitting peacefully in her jumper.
She could tell Natsu was getting impatient with her, she knew because he told her every time she paced past him. Lucy just couldn't believe she'd gotten herself into this mess! She worried her lip thinking over a conversation starter to; "Hey my fake-husband and I wanna take your kid and go to a family reunion to pose as a fake-married couple with kids!...please don't yell at me…"
No good! She thought/muttered under her breath. Every conversation she played out in her head ended badly. This was definitely not good!
"Lucy, can you stop pacing, it's distracting…" Poor Natsu still had his math thesis to finish and Lucy could only imagine how her anxious pacing combined with his ADD was working for him...probably not well.
"UGGHHH!" She groaned loudly and ruffled up her hair in a frenzy. "I can't do it! I can't tell Gray we claimed legal birthright to his daughter!"
"We?! I didn't do anything! This was all you!" He stood up to look her in the eye.
"You're the father so we're in this together! Whether you like it or not!" She pointed her finger, making it clear she was not going through this torture alone.
"I'm not a father! Seriously, Lucy I'm the last guy you should ask to pose as a responsible father figure to a kid that's not even mine!"
"I panicked okay!"
"I could tell, Lucy Dragneel." He said mockingly.
"Look, if Dad finds out I'm doing nothing with my life and I'm currently wasting away my university time writing nonsensical stories that he never agreed with in the first place, then I'm gonna be a laughingstock! The deadbeat of the Heartfilia family! That doesn't just include bad rep among relatives, Natsu, my father has a public image to uphold! If word gets out the daughter of Heartfilia Konzern and Railways is a good for nothing deadbeat then...then...It'll be world war three dammit!" She stomped her foot for emphasis.
Natsu paused, then; "I don't think you're a deadbeat. Besides the stories you write are awesome."
"YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO READ THEM! I promised Levy she could read it first!"
"Well what's the point of writing if you never show anyone? C'mon Luce we've had this discussion before."
"We're getting off topic!" She spat and pinched the bridge of her nose trying to ward off her headache. She sighed. "We need to find a nice way to tell Gray and Juvia that we're taking Ultear up country for a bit...That's it! We'll tell them we're taking her on a nice upcountry retreat with us while we enjoy our week off from college! Yeah just a nice stay in a country side cabin, nothing dangerous and certainly nothing scandalo-Natsu?"
By the time Lucy had finished rambling to herself and looked over, she realized Natsu was already on the phone. She didn't have to know who it was to know exactly what he was doing.
"Yeah, Gray, Lucy told her cousin that Ultear is our kid and we're married, so now we're going to her family reunion at Lucy's estate with your kid."
Lucy's mouth gaped and she went pale as a ghost. The yelling that came through the other end of the line was godly.
"-Natsu! You flamebrain! What do you mean Ultear's your kid! And why the hell are you taking her anywhere! You're supposed to watch her like a good babysitter!-"
"Hey, don't blame me man, Lucy's the one who told her cousin all that crazy shit."
Without a warning Natsu handed the phone to Lucy, from the ear piece she could hear both Juvia and Gray trying to get a word in edgewise. Natsu had a dead look in his eye that told her she better face the music or he'd make her. Reluctantly she took the phone.
"Um...Hi, Gray…"
"-Lucy you better explain this right now! Tell me Natsu is joking!-"
She hesitated. The only thoughts able to form in her head seemed to be swear words that she was sure Gray would take the wrong way if she spoke them aloud. "Ehh, well ya see, it happened so suddenly…"
"-What's that supposed to mean!-" He shouted then Lucy heard Juvia in the background; "-Gray-sama let Juvia talk to Lucy~-" Her words sounded pleasant enough and Juvia was normally the calm one in the relationship as well as one of her best friends, maybe she could make Juvia understand… "-If my love rival thinks she can take my child too Juvia will rip her apart limb from limb while my hurricanes tear through your family's house with the force of category 5 winds!-" The voice that came from the other end was guttural and made Lucy weak in the knees. She didn't even know Juvia could sound so...horrifying!
The phone was pried from her hands. "Alright, guys I think that's enough, Lucy looks like she's going to faint."
Gray sighed. "-There's no way in hell I'm letting you take our child to some random families rich estate where she could catch a cold or something!-"
"Well, it's not technically a random families estate it's Lucy's old place for crying out loud. And Ultear won't catch a cold! Have you ever seen one of those mansions? They're spotless! Not a speck of dirt anywhere!"
"-That's not what I'm worried about!-" Gray continued. "-And who's side are you on anyway!?-"
"Side? I'm not on anyone's side! I was dragged into this! You think I want to be the father to your little brat!"
"-WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY!-"
Lucy had to step in now, this was going too far. "Guys, please don't fight!" She took the phone from Natsu and motioned with her hand for him to go take a walk and cool down. "Look, I'm really, really sorry Gray! I didn't want any of this to happen but Michelle came by and she just assumed Ultear was my kid, and I can't disappoint my family again...It'd be too hard to accept I'm a failure to them…"
She heard a sigh from Gray. "-How long are you staying there?-"
"The reunion is this weekend, and it's a long upcountry trip so...two days...tops!" She added hoping Gray didn't think that was overboard.
There was silence on the other end, Lucy had almost thought Gray had hung up, suddenly he spoke again. "-Where are you staying?-"
"Uhhh…" Lucy hesitated.
"-You do know where you're staying right?-" She didn't say anything. "-Lucy I swear to god I will come back there an-"
"My family's estate! We're staying at my family's estate...I'm sure they'd welcome me back in for one night."
"-Alright, fine. Gimme the address and phone number I wanna be able to contact you.-"
Lucy ran off the numbers from the top of her head, making extra sure she got the number right and assuring Gray she'd have her phone on the the whole time.
"-You better not make me regret this. YA HEAR THAT, PYRO, MY DAUGHTER BETTER BE IN PRIME OLYMPIC FORM WHEN WE GET BACK!-" Gray screamed so Natsu could hear and Lucy had to hold the phone away so her ear didn't get blown off.
"Don't worry, she'll be fine! Lucy's a good caretaker anyway." Natsu shouted back.
"-You're the one who's supposed to be taking care of her in the first place, idiot!-" In the background Lucy could hear strange noises, elevator beeps and lots of people talking. "-Shit, I gotta go. You take care of my kid ya hear! And this better be the only damn reunion you take her too! You wanna go to another one have some kids of yer own!-"
Lucy blushed but sighed and said; "I, Lucy Heartfillia, solemnly swear I will not take Ultear to anymore of my families reunions!" She even held up her right hand, though Gray couldn't see. I won't take Ultear to any more but there's still no promise for any future kids you have… She kept the thought to herself knowing it was wrong of her to think it and that Gray would most certainly never let her touch his daughter again if he heard it.
"-Tch, fine.-" Gray's end clicked off just as the background noise picked up. Lucy hung up the phone, she breathed out deeply and sat there for a few seconds processing what she just promised to.
"Don't you mean, Lucy Dragneel!" Natsu leaned in close and mocked her. Lucy picked up the nearest pillow and proceeded to whack him with it until he screamed uncle. They had no time to waste if they wanted to get ready for this reunion.
"Lucccyyyy~" A princess waved to them from the lawn of her father's mansion. "I'm so glad you came!" She said when their carriage pulled up. Thankfully her remaining ties with her family gave her the ability to call upon a personal horse and carriage driver so she wouldn't have to look ridiculous showing up in her beat up 1990 Mazda.
Lucy stepped out of the carriage with Natsu, who had Ultear, in tow. If Michelle had loved Ultear when she first saw her, she was struck with cupids arrow the second time. "Ooohh! Your little one just keeps getting cuter!" She pinched Ultears cheeks, to which Ultear responded with a harsh tug of her hair.
Michelle pulled back, hurt and somewhat stunned. Lucy was almost afraid she was going to somehow reprimand a six month old for doing something nearly harmless. But Michelle didn't, she just smiled again and laughed. "You're full of energy aren't you?" She smiled at Ultear, once again she was greeted with a stunning death glare for an infant.
"Sure if that's what you wanna call it…" Natsu muttered, turning his head away to make it look like he wasn't talking. Lucy sent him a quick jab to the ribs with her elbow.
"Well, then. Let's get inside won't we? Wouldn't wanna miss the festivities." Lucy said to distract from Natsu's 'oof' so Michelle wouldn't notice.
"Oh, certainly not!" Michelle skipped ahead of them, probably so she could properly introduce them when they walked through the doors.
Natsu whispered in her ear; "You look sick?"
"I'll be fine, I'm just worried about you."
He seemed taken aback and replied, "Me? What did I do?"
Lucy returned his comment with harsh words. "It's not what you did, it's what you might do!" He scoffed. "Look, you don't know my family, you don't know how they react to things and how they speak. Say one thing wrong and it could blow up in your face...Just let me do all the talking...kay?"
"Sure." He answered flatly and Lucy could only hope he wasn't furious at her for dragging him into this.
She took a deep breath and stepped in rhythm with Natsu as the front door swung open.
"Please welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Dragneel back to Heartfillia Konzern and Railways! Our dear Miss Lucy has returned with high hopes for a bright future!"
She'd almost forgotten how formal her father could get. He loved big entrances and he adored the noble life. Lucy hated it. The announcer went on to welcome the next guests as they stepped through and Natsu and Lucy strolled down the front steps leisurely. Natsu still held Ultear in his arm, her arms wrapped around his scarf/neck, and Lucy's hand delicately wrapped around his elbow.
Thank god she had checked in at her father's home before coming to the party mansion. She had nothing even remotely sufficient enough to impress the high-end classes here. Her former servants had been more than willing to sew her an entirely new dress the day before the travelled, with a matching suit for Natsu.
Both were dressed elegantly. Lucy with a sleeveless royal purple ball gown that had a lighter violet colored fabric draped around the beginnings of the skirt part for flare. Her hair, that she'd demanded her old hairdresser, Cancer take care of, was beautifully french braided, trailing down her bare back with a few loose strands and her bangs loose in the front. Natsu was dressed sharply in a suit that fit him perfectly, showing his figure that one could only imagine looked better without clothes on, not that Lucy was paying attention to things like that. Of course his scarf was still there, Natsu had insisted it stay on no matter what. His hair had been slicked back and put in somewhat of a ponytail, after recents years of being unkempt it had gotten long. Lucy had to admit, he looked damn good! And she adored the outfit her servants found for Ultear. Simple but adorable, with a large bow in the back that accentuated the deep blues of the dress. She also had her short bangs clipped back with a matching flower hair clip.
At least if this reunion ended up horrible, Lucy could remember how marvelous her fake-family looked while here.
"Miss Lucy Heartfillia! So wonderful to see you again- Although pardon me I should address you as Miss Dragneel now, if what Michelle tells us is true." As they walked up to some of her family members and guests of the party Lucy was instantly greeted. And by someone she'd hoped she wasn't going to see here, nonetheless. Sawarr Junelle extended a hand to her, out of politeness she gave him her hand which he then used to plant a wet peck to her wrist and didn't stop going until his lips had moved up to her elbow. By that point she gently retracted her hand so he couldn't go any further. That Sawarr never knew when to stop. As much as she had disliked the man she had to keep up niceties. If they were going to get through this party she had to make sure they were all on their best behavior. A grunt from Natsu told her he didn't like Sawarr's forwardness either but he kept his mouth shut.
"And Natsu isn't it?" Sawarr then offered a firm handshake to Natsu which he took reluctantly. "Michelle tells us wonderful things about your new...family."
Lucy smiled. "I hope she didn't sell us out too much," She replied humbly with a friendly glance to Michelle beside her. "It'd be a shame if she spoiled all the news we have to share."
"Pray tell, Miss Lucy, if you have more stories to share, please be our guest." Another one of her father's associates spoke up, Patricia Evangelous if she wasn't mistaken. The Evangelous family, she'd heard, had partnered with the Heartfillia family a year after she ran away. Their heir had even been married off to Michelle for business purposes. Anything further than that she'd neglected to keep track of.
"Not much else to tell." She began. "Natsu and I have been engaged for two years and married for five. Little Ultear is the newest addition to our growing family. " Lucy motioned to Ultear on Natsu's hip and stroked her head of short hair lovingly. Ultear stirred, still with her eyes closed, she pulled tighter on Natsu's neck.
"There must be more than that?" Said Tony Faulkner, shareholder of 26% of Heartfilia Konzern and Railways. Mr. Faulkner was a young man with more on his mind than sharing property with her father, he wanted it all. Only the marriage between Heartfilia and Evangelous families kept his attempts of takeover at bay.
"Surely, child. What have you been doing for these seven years. You must have had some sort of way to keep yourself stable. Especially with a little one." Patricia seconded.
Lucy hesitated. She knew they weren't going to approve of her time in college and certainly not of wasting her time away in fantastical stories. "Well, I started out as a secretary for the CEO of stock production and have since worked my way up to President of residential affairs with 40% stock in my possession." The crowd around her 'ooed and aahed' some clapped their hands, everyone looked impressed.
Before she could be questioned anymore she heard her voice called. "Miss Lucy Dragneel. Jude Heartfillia summons you to his quarters."
"Well, I suppose that's my queue." She spoke then turned to Natsu. "Darling, feel free to help yourself to the festivities. Don't worry, my family doesn't bite." She spoke playfully. Natsu nodded and she gave him a peck on the cheek. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach at the thought of leaving Natsu alone to deal with her high maintenance relatives but it wasn't as if she had much of a choice. She knew her father was going to summon her sooner or later. It seemed he had picked sooner, and how fitting of him to announce it instead of meeting her himself at the party.
She walked lightly up the steps, following her father's butler to his room. The butler opened up the door and she stepped inside. She didn't really know what to expect as she walked in.
"Lucy Dragneel, is it?" He greeted her with a dark expression. Sitting behind his desk with hands folded and arms propped up on elbows, he looked so distant. So not like a father. Lucy wondered if he had always been that way... She said nothing in way of reply and waited for him to continue. "Have you so much forgotten where you came from you'd marry any poor excuse for a man?"
That was the line that struck a nerve. He could abuse her but she'd be damned if her father said anything about Natsu, a man whom he hadn't even met yet. "You have no right to criticize him like that!"
"Then can it be said you had no right to leave this family?" He spoke calmly, like he knew she was getting agitated and remained stoic just to spite her feelings.
"That's completely different! I left because I wanted a family! And I found it, shouldn't you be happy about that!?"
"I'd be happy if my daughter had bothered to consult me before selling her life away to that fool!" Juse was angry now, he stood up, not bothering to contain the volume of his voice. "And don't try to tell me you've bettered yourself with petty lies about a child and fanciful new life. You may have the rest of the family fooled but you can't pull the wool over my eyes. I know you're still in college, wasting your time with those fiction worlds of yours."
Lucy looked to the ground. "You kept an eye on me this whole time? These seven years have been lies."
"...I was hoping you'd come to your senses and come back to the family. I see now I was wrong. You're too far gone now. Lost in lies of a better life." Lucy dipped her head more. Did he summon her all the way up here just to criticize her life choices? "You have no place in this family anymore." Jude spoke quietly again.
"I never wanted a place in this family!" She began to yell. There was no way she could stand to hear this anymore. It was the reason she had run away in the first place. "All I wanted was a place in your heart! I only wanted was for you to love me, Father. I don't care about fancy dresses, or titles! Why couldn't you ever see that?!"
She'd had enough and didn't bother for his reply as she ran out of the room. She needed to find Natsu, they were leaving immediately.
Natsu had found a spot to sit down by the food, stuffing his face as much as he could while keeping Ultear balanced on his hip. Lucy hurried to his side, grabbed Ultear from him and walked out the door. She was afraid if she spent any more time here she wouldn't be able to stop the tears from falling. Confused, Natsu followed her with large steps.
She passed a group of her relatives on the way who asked where she was going in such a hurry. Lucy stopped short only to tell them they had to get Ultear home. It was a ridiculous excuse considering Ultear was normally such a low maintenance child and there was really no need. But they didn't know that and it gave Lucy the escape she needed.
When they were finally outside Lucy slowed a little bit but kept walking.
"Luce?" Natsu questioned, touching her elbow gently trying to get her to speak. She didn't answer him and kept walking. "Lucy? What happened?" He asked again.
Without slowing her footsteps she spoke; "I knew this was going to be hard to face but what he did was uncalled for!"
"What are you talking about, Luce? What happened? Is this about your dad?"
Lucy spun on a heel. "Let's just go home! I don't wanna talk about it."
Natsu took her word for it and let her be. For most of the ride home she was silent. Lucy always hated the way her family was obsessed with titles and money. Sometimes even thinking about it got her upset, after this little outing she wouldn't be able to relax for a few days at least.
When they finally pulled into Lucy's driveway she was exhausted. They drove most of the day so it was the middle of the night. Natsu didn't bother to go home to his apartment and just followed Lucy inside, Ultear strapped in her travel crib.
Lucy fell asleep that night, the memories of her father's words still rattling around in her mind, unable to let go.
"Hey, Luce?" Natsu rolled over and asked. It must have been two in the morning but Natsu was still up, and he knew Lucy was too.
"Hm?"
There was silence as Natsu thought of what he was going to say. She felt him stir beside her, his hips moved closer to hers, causing her cheeks to flare red, his arms wrapped around her protectively. As much as she would deny her feelings about Natsu in public or act shy about how she really felt, she had to admit...Natsu was warm. His arms tightened around her. "Nothing." He muttered and immediately fell asleep again.
Lucy breathed deeply and whispered, "I love you, too."
