Hey guys, I'm back! *cheers* Thank you! Thank you very much! I missed you to! Oh and before I forget, thank you Rose Tiger, JayandNya4evr, and Madnessotako for reviewing!*more cheers* Enjoy this chapter!

Normal POV

A devastated Lucy ran upstairs and into her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. She sat there, on her bed, thinking, he's lying, it's not true, she would never leave! Then a soft knock came at the door and the salmon haired boy came in.

"You okay? Need someone to talk to?" He asked sweetly.

"Uh, sure. You seem to know, like exactly what to do in these situations." She questioned.

"Yeah, my mom died a while ago and just wanted these things and didn't get a lot of it."

"That's sad. So, how'd you get past it?" She inquired.

"I realized that if my mom was still around, she wouldn't want me to be unhappy and that I still had people who loved me." He smiled softly, his onyx eyes gazing into her chocolate ones.

"You're right, so thanks. Dad's not very into the chatting thing. He wanted a boy and when he got me, he was angry." She said sadly.

"Well, the maids and servants love you. I have only been down there once for about 30 seconds but the place is buzzing with conversation of you and your generosity. They say that Layla's spirit lives in you."

"Thanks, you helped a hard time become a lot easier for me." Lucy said, while pulling Natsu into an embrace.

"Anything for a friend, right?" His grin widened.

After a few minutes, they walked downstairs and saw Jude drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. "Gotten over your cry fest I see." He said, annoyed.

"Do you not care that mom died?!" Lucy growled.

"Why should I? All she's ever given me is something I never wanted." He said, flipping a page.

"So you don't feel anything?!" She cried, tears in her eyes.

"I feel happy and content, I feel something." Jude replied, calmly taking a loud sip from his cup.

Natsu glared at him. He could never get the image of him killing Layla out I of his head. He can't expose Jude yet... He will once he gains the trust of the people here. That's what he's decided and he never breaks his promises.

Timeskip~ one month

True to his word, Natsu is about to expose Jude. Should he expose him to the Royal Army or just the Heartfilia manor? Jude has enough power that he can probably convince the police Natsu was lying, so maybe the manor first and then later on the Royal Army.

He was sitting in front of Layla's grave with Lucy beside him. I'm gonna give your keys to Luce as an Easter present. I'm sure she'll love them. I watch over Lucy, in fact I check on her around 8:00 through the window. She likes having a friend she can talk to about the day. In fact, she's right here if you want to talk to her. RIP. He thought.

Natsu got up and Lucy and him went back to the manor, chatting.

"So, how as your day been?" He asked.

"Fine, today in school I learned about the government." She said, a slightly bored expression coming to her face. "I know it's important, but why do I have to learn about it in 2nd grade?"

"Who knows? Maybe you're at a 6th grade history level."

"Maybe."

"...Luce do you trust me?" He suddenly said.

"Yeah, with all my heart." She replied, smiling. "Why?"

"Um," he gulped. "No reason... but thanks for trusting me."

"Okay, no problem..." She said.

"So, is your dad treating you alright?" He asked, remembering his promise to Layla.

"No... He ignores me except when he needs me for something and it's p***ing me off!" She exclaimed, her voice raising to a shout.

"Hey, you're only 6 and its not ladylike to swear." Natsu teased.

Lucy laughed. "If you think I care about what's ladylike and what isn't, you don't know me at all! S***face!" Her grin grew and she ran towards the manor.

"Get your booty back here, Lucy!" He ran after her, caught up to her quick, tagged her, and yelled. "You're it!" Then he ran the other way.

"You're SO DEAD, Dragneel!" She shouted, whipping around and chasing him.

At the manor, Jude watched angrily through the huge window in his office.

"That boy," Jude hissed "he's making Lucy defiant and carefree. He must go! He will suffer the fate of Layla!"

Timeskip~ that night- 7:00

Normal POV

Lucy was sitting on her bed, reading her favorite book by Zekua Melon, when her father barged into her room.

"Hello, Father." She said in an emotionless tone, quickly standing up in respect. "What may I do for you?"

"Don't you act like that with me, Lucy!" He spat. He quickly closed the space between Lucy and him and pushed her back on the bed. "You're just like your mother! Stupid, arrogant Layla, who I killed!" He smiled at her reaction.

She was petrified. Why would he do that? She knew he hated her mother, but never thought he'd go to such extremes to get rid of her. Then she felt something hit her arm and hissed. She realized that Jude was standing in front of her with a belt in his hand.

He whipped the belt at her stomach and fire flew up to her chest.

Normal POV

Natsu walked to the window in his bedroom/closet and climbed out and up towards Lucy's room. He climbed onto the windowsill and was about to knock when he let out a growl.

A grinning Jude holding a belt stood over a Lucy with cuts and bruises everywhere. He snarled and then jumped down to his room, packing his most treasured items and threw them in a small bag.

Then he jumped back up to Lucy's room and threw himself in the window. He saw Lucy alone and picked her up, she was awake and breathing, good signs. Then he scavenged around the room and threw a couple of her things in the bag. Afterwards, he jumped out the window with the hurt Lucy in his arms.

He landed lightly on his feet and started running, when he felt a bad presence behind him, so he ducked and a bullet flew over him. He put Lucy on the ground and turned to see Jude.

"Thinking you can get away unscathed huh? You thought wrong. I'm gonna put a bullet between your eyes before you can say ' Lucy'" He smiled and brought up the gun again, and pulled the trigger.

Natsu saw a flash of golden blonde hair and heard a cry of pain. He saw Lucy in front of him and blood was everywhere, then she fell, scarcely breathing.

Hey guys, here's the next chapter! :) So long (for now). Mwahahahahaha!