Please don't hate me for not uploading this yesterday, but to be honest it wasn't my fault. Mom threatened to ground me for a month if I didn't stay home yesterday and get some chores done. On the bright side I managed to have some time to write more for some other stories I have.

Chapter 2

Lucy's Past

Natsu P.O.V.

The rest of the summer goes pretty much the same way as the first day with Luce and I getting really close until one day after dinner.

After dinner, instead of heading upstairs for bed, Luce heads into the living room so I follow her and sit down down grabbing her hand. It took about a week before she felt comfortable enough to let me hold them.

She looks down and says "Natsu what I'm about to tell you will make you angry so can you promise not to hurt anyone? And please no interruptions I'm having a hard enough time keeping my confidence as is."

I gulp but realize this is a big step for her so all I say is "Promise"

She takes a deep breath and says "When I was 15 I ran away from my father. He tried to force me into an arranged marriage and I wasn't having it."

I hold my breath afraid that a small gust of air would make her clam up again.

"About a year after my escape I ran into this guy at the mall named Sting. Sting bought me clothing that I sorely needed and offered me a place to stay until I could get on my feet, but when he took me to the location and entered he knocked me unconscious."

"When I woke up I was tied up in a basement. I tried to fight but eventually I gave up. They beat me nonstop for days but never bad enough where they would need to call the ambulance. They let me roam the house but was unable to escape."

"I was at their beck and call and if I didn't get there fast enough I was slapped. If I fell I was kicked, if I cried I was choked until I passed out. If the chores weren't done in a timely manner and food cooked at a certain time I was hung in the basement and beat."

"Then one day Rogue came down to the basement where I slept and choked me until I passed out. I was just coming to when I felt myself pushed and hitting the ground before I passed out again. When I woke up again I was here."

I exhaled as I thought about everything she had said and then I made my mind up. "Luce, can you look at me please?" I ask quietly.

Once I can see her gorgeous chocolate brown eyes I say with 100% sincerity "Lucy, I promise no one can hurt you like that anymore. So long as I'm by your side I will protect you."

She looks at me with tears in her eyes. "Do you mean it?" she whispers.

"Of course I mean it. That day in the rain I could've left you there and went on my way but I brought you with me. I don't know what it is but I feel this overwhelming urge to always make smile and to protect you always and I swear upon my honor as a Dragneel to protect you and make you smile and laugh."

Then she leans forward and hugs me, I softly hug her back afraid to break her with how fragile she looks, but I also know she's stronger than she looks.

We break the hug and I say "Hey Luce there's been something I've been wanting to ask you for about a week now?"

She looks up at me and I say "How would you feel about going to school with me? That way when Wendy and I go back you won't be home alone, and Dad and Mom can set it up so we have all the same classes. So what do you say?"

Her face turns thoughtful and she says "And you'll be by my side always?" I just nod. "Then yes I will, besides it sounds like fun." I grin and give her a hug, before we head up for bed.

Grandeeney P.O.V.

Igneel and I are hiding just out of sight listening to Lucy and Natsu's conversation. When we hear what Sting and Rogue did to Lucy I have to stop Igneel from stomping out of the house to go kill them.

By the time I calm him down I hear Natsu pledge on the Dragneel family honor which means he's serious. The only time you pledge on the Dragneel family honor is when you're 100% serious.

I lock eyes with Igneel as we hear the rest and we share the same look. She has his heart for as long as he lives. We wait for them to go to bed before we walk to the study.

"Igneel what are we gonna do about Sting and Rogue? They're the sons of our competitor. We can't take them to court, do you know how far back that would set Lucy? Then there's the school situation, How are we gonna pull that off?" I say before I sit in one of the chairs.

I look up to see an evil grin on Igneel's face. "First up you'll call the school and set them up for the same classes and don't worry about Sting and Rogue. Now if you'll excuse me I have a very important call to make, I'll be up to bed in 10 minutes." He says already picking up the phone.

Igneel P.O.V.

I watch as my wife leaves before dialing a number I know by heart. I hear a gruff "Hello" from the other side after it rings three times and I say "Code Starlight, Star bright" then in reply the voice says "Good night" before hanging up the phone and going to bed.

~The Next Day~ Grandeeney P.O.V.

I'm in the kitchen making breakfast when Igneel comes down the steps and starts making his plate. "Honey I'll be home late tonight so just set my plate in the fridge for me will you?"

I turn around to scoop bacon on a plate and glare at him. "Igneel Dragneel don't think I didn't recognize that number on previous dials. I know it just as well as you do. Now tell me what was the code or I swear you will be sleeping on the couch until the new year."

He flinches at the threat but just as he's about to tell me the code Natsu, Lucy, and Wendy come down the steps. Igneel looks at me and says "I'll tell you when I get home tonight, Promise." I nod and he leaves for work.

Natsu P.O.V.

I look at the spot Dad just vacated and look to see Mom upset so I quickly make my plate before saying "Why did Dad rush off?" Mom turns off the stove and starts to make her plate before saying "Your father forgot he had an early meeting today."

I nod before saying "Hey Mom do you think you could get Luce enrolled at my school and with all my classes?" She tilts her head thinking for a second before saying "I think I can pull some strings to make it happen."

I jump up yelling "Yosh" and pull Luce into a hug. Once I let go I see Wendy and Mom staring at us slack jawed. "What?" I ask confused.

Wendy closes her mouth and says "Since when were you able to get close enough to hug her?" Luce then says "We were talking last night and I hugged him." Then she looks at the floor.

"Luce it's great you're giving hugs now. Just a few weeks ago you were flinching whenever we would wave, but now you smile bright enough to light up the house."

Luce looks away embarrassed and says "Really?"

"Yes really, remember what I said last night?" She nods. "Every bit of it was said from the heart."

Then she gives us a smile so big it leaves all of us stunned for a moment. "There you go Luce, that's what I'm talking about. Those are the smiles the world and I need to see more or." I say cheerfully.

"So what do you want to do today?" I ask her. "Can we go out?" She says hesitantly. I look at mom and say "Mom can we borrow one of the cars and cards?"

She nods and says "Take the camaro your father just had the paint detailed like you wanted and take the gold card. You know how your father gets when you take the platinum."

I nod and we run upstairs to get changed and grab the keys. When we walk around to open the garage Luce just stands there while I pull the chains. When the light hits the camaro I whistle.

From hood to the spoiler is a bright red fading to almost black with pinstripe flames stretching the sides while colorful flames flashing from red to yellow cover the hood and front bumper.

"Wow it's gorgeous when did you get it?" Luce says from behind me. "Dad got it to celebrate my 18th birthday." I say while opening her door for her.

Then I climb in the driver's side and turn the key in the ignition. The car roars to life and we take off down the the driveway. Ten minutes later we're at the mall.

Luce doesn't ask for anything until we go by the pet store. "Hey Natsu, look in the window." I look but don't see anything until I spot a flash of blue.

We enter the pet store and come to find out it's a blue kitten. As I'm watching Luce hold the kitten her face just lights up and I say "We'll take him."

We walk up to the counter to fill out the paperwork. The only downside is he needs a name, I watch as Luce is just so happy holding him that I decide his name is Happy.

On our way out of the store Luce ask "Why'd you name him Happy?" I look at her and say "Because holding him makes you happy which makes me happy."

When we get back to the house Mom says to me "Why a cat?"

We're watching as Luce is setting up the scratching post. "Mom you should have seen her face when she saw the cat through the window. She looked radiant, so happy, then when I said I would buy her the kitten. It's unexplainable just how much happiness was in her eyes."

Mom looks at the cat as he sleeps in my hair and says "Why Happy?" I grin saying "Because having the cat makes her happy, and her being happy makes me happy."

She smiles saying "I'm glad you've gotten so far with her, you know I think you're the only one who would've been able to pull it off this fast." I frown and say "Why do you think that Mom?"

She chuckles watching Happy stretch out on my head before saying "Because no one would've had the the patience to stick to her like you have plus there's something about you that makes her feel safe and protected, but Natsu, you have to be careful. If you hurt her in anyway she could very easily fall back into that scared timid girl you brought home 3 months ago."

I watch Luce "I know Mom, do you remember that night when I told you I felt something but I didn't know what is was?" She nods.

"Well I know what it is now." She arches an eyebrow and says "Oh yea and what is that?" I look to Mom and say "In the three short months I've known Lucy I've fallen in love with her and I've fallen hard. 100 times harder than when I fell off the barrel of that tank when we went to the army base."

She looks at me in shock before saying "My baby boy is finally growing up." I squirm out of her hug saying "Mom why don't you go make dinner and I'll help Luce finish setting everything up."

She nods turning towards the kitchen while I go over and grab the scratching post to keep it from toppling over on Luce's head. After I help her set up the litter box, a bed, set the toys out, and put down a food and water bowl and remove Happy's claws from my head it's time for dinner.

We sit down at the dining table but I notice dad isn't home yet so I ask Mom "Where's Dad? He should be home by now."

She finishes making her plate before saying "Your father had to stay late at the office tonight." I shrug and go back to eating.

Then I see a flash of blue and look over to see Luce giving pieces of fish to Happy as he sits on the chair. He doesn't jump on the table, or meow begging for more he just takes what Luce gives him and when she says "All gone." he gets down and goes to his bed.

I whistle saying "If I didn't know better I would think he has better table manners than Dad does." We all laugh and go back to eating before going upstairs and going to bed for the night.

~Other side of Town~ Igneel P.O.V.

I hope Grandeeney doesn't make me sleep on the couch for doing this but it needs to be done. After watching Natsu fall hard for the poor girl, those bastards need to pay.

I pull into the small gravel parking lot of a rural cemetery, before walking half a mile and up a hill to sit beneath an apple tree. 15 minutes later a hooded figure walks up the hill and sits beside me.

Then he speaks up "what do you want Igneel? You only use starlight, starbright when you're serious."

I look up at the sky and say "3 months ago my son brought home a beaten and battered girl, who was pushed out of a moving car. He and Grandeeney fixed her up but in the process he's fallen for her. However that's only part of it, yesterday she finally opened up to tim and told him how she ended up that way. Sting Eucliffe and Rogue Cheney kidnapped her two years ago and beat her everyday. Over the past three months Natsu has managed to make when at first she just flinched."

He looks up as well and says "So what do you need me for?" I turn to him and say "Metalicana I need you to track down every piece of dirt you can on those two and do everything you and your brat can to ruin their image. I know you're training Gajeel to takeover just as I am with mine so think of this as practice."

He snorts and is quiet for a moment before saying "If this means as much to you family as I think it does then yea we'll take care of it." I nod and stand up before saying "Thank you brother I owe you."

I walk back to my car and head home. When I get home I walk in to see Grandeeney sitting at the kitchen island waiting for me. I go over and grab my plate from the fridge before sitting across from her.

She waits until I'm finished before saying "What was the code and what did he say?" I grab her hands running my thumb of her wedding band before replying "Starlight, Starbright and he and his son will take care of it."

She nods before giving me a peck on the cheek and saying "See you in bed." and heading upstairs. With a sigh I put my dishes away and follow her.

Natsu P.O.V.

3 days after we bring Happy home we're sitting at the kitchen table when the phone rings. Mom picks it up saying "Hello? This is her." A minute later "Really? That's great news, Thank you, yes we look forward to seeing you too."

She hangs up the phone and sits back down at the table. "Mom what was that about?" A grin splits across her face and she says "That was your principal, he's agreed to enroll Lucy and managed to put her in all your classes."

I smile yelling "Yosh!" then I turn to Luce and say "So are you excited?" she just smiles and nods. Happy jumps up on the counter and starts rubbing against Luce's cheek purring.

We laugh at this and I say "You're excited for Luce too aren't you Happy?" Happy meows and Luce says "I've never been to a school with other kids." She scratches behind Happy's ear and he purrs louder.

I look at her in surprise and she says "Up until I ran away I was home schooled." I grin and say "Don't worry you'll love it and besides I'll be right at your side. Oh and don't listen to mean things some of the other people may say."

Then Mom says "And ignore any rumors you may hear." I look at her in gratitude before saying "School starts the day after tomorrow so what do you say to me taking you shopping for school clothes?"

She nods and we grab the gold card and the keys to the Camaro and head to Sweet Serendipity to buy some clothes. What I failed to realize is that Luce has an extraordinary fashion sense while also being able to save a lot of money on purchases.

When we exit Sweet Serendipity it takes me, Luce, and an employee to carry out all of the bags and yet we didn't go over $500. Something I learned about Luce's sense of fashion is that she likes simple.

Most of her outfits include skirts that go anywhere from ankle to mid thigh while her shirts never rise past her navel and doesn't reveal too much cleavage. After we leave we head somewhere for lunch and then we head home.

When we open the door Happy jumps into Luce's arms making her drop her bags. I laugh and take the bags to her room before heading out for the rest.

Once all the bags are inside I say "Hey Luce can you hang out with Wendy for a little while? I just remembered I have to run something to Dad. I won't be gone long only about 20 minutes tops."

She nods as she unpacks the bags and I run back to the car to go to the shopping district. I park in front of a jewelry store and walk in looking at all the different items on display.

A clerk notices me looking around and says "May I help you, Sir?" I say "I'm looking for something simple but elegant." He thinks for a second before walking behind the counter and pulling out a necklace.

The necklace is a red ruby cut to look like a star with many facets and is connected to a 24 carat gold chain. I smile and say "I'll take it."

The clerk replies "Would you like it gift wrapped?" I nod before saying "How long would it take to have the box engraved?" The clerk thinks for only a second before saying "Any where from 5 to 15 minutes depending on what is engraved."

I nod and say "then I would like it to be engraved with the name 'Luce' on it if you don't mind." the clerk nods and says "Of course not Sir, that won't take long at all. If you wait right here I shall not be long." Sure enough not 5 minutes later he walks out and shows me the box.

I nod and he places the necklace in the box before wrapping it and handing it to. I paid while I was waiting. I drive back to the house careful to get rid of the bag before I arrive.

I walk in and say "Luce I'm back." She walks out of the living room and gives me a hug before she sees I'm hiding something behind my back. "What's that behind your back?"

I just smile and say "It's for you." before I hand her the gift. Wendy walks over to watch her open it. When the wrapping paper comes off she stares at the name engraved on the box with tears in her eyes then I say gently "Open it."

When she opens it is when the tears fall. "Oh Thank you Natsu, it's beautiful." I take the necklace out of the box and turn her around to put it on. When it's on Wendy says "Lucy that looks absolutely gorgeous on you."

All Luce does is turn around and gives me a hug too tearful to say anything. Then Dad walks in and Luce crying says "Lucy why are you crying? Did Natsu do something to make you upset?"

Luce shakes her head saying "These are tears of joy. I'm crying because I'm so happy I finally have people who care for me."

I take a deep breath and say "Luce I don't just care for you, I love you. I've loved you since the very first day." She looks at me and says "Oh Natsu I love you too."

I look to see Dad grinning and Wendy has tears in her eyes. Happy comes in and meows pretty much ruining the moment. Mom walks out of the kitchen and says "Dinner's ready" then she takes in the scene and says "What did I miss?"

Dad still grinning says "Natsu and Lucy are a thing now." Mom just smiles and says "It was only a matter of time." Then we hear Dad's stomach and I say "Didn't you say dinner is ready?" she nods her head and I say "Lets chow."

What did you think? Are you liking this story? You guys are being too quiet. You guys need to leave more reviews to let me know how you feel about this. And yes I know it's mean to write Sting as the evil person but you'll understand why in the next few chapters. So please, please, please leave more reviews.

I begging you guys to help me out here.

Grizzly out for the night.