Chapter 2: Break and Mend.

A/N:

Hello everyone! Back with another chapter again, hoping to update quickly with school ending. Please tell me what you think so far! I really want to hear your thoughts and opinions on this style/ theme. so please leave a comment/review/critique!.

Thanks to Gemini8784, and Meow Orbit for the reviews!

Song Credits: Guy Sebastian- Battle Scars

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"So what the hell was i there for Sting? Wasn't asked a single question. Fuck i was like a statue!" Lucy yelled at Sting. The two were finally arriving back at the Heartfilia Estate, Sting was joining her inside to report to her father. Together the walked up the stairs engrossed in a constant argument.

"Well you were the representative for the Heartfilia Corp." sting stated.

"Representative? Really? Because that guy obviously acknowledged that." Lucy looked at the ground a massive frown forming across her face. "Why… Why do so many people just use me…"

"What?" sting asked unsure what Lucy had asked him.

"Hmm? Oh nevermind, don't worry about it. Anyway my father's door is right here so let's get this over with."

"Hey Lucy… there is something i need to talk to you about." Sting said. He began to scratch his neck and refused to make eye contact, as if it was serious.

"What Sting?" She asked, fully wanting to just get this meeting over with so she could continue on her way.

"Remember my business partner? Yukino? You met her a few times right?"

"Yeah, she seemed nice." Lucy looked questionably at him. "What about her?"

"Just… whatever happens i want you to know that-" Sting was cut off.

"Hello there Sting! Its a pleasure to see you, please come in. Leo fetch us some refreshments please." Jude had opened the door and interrupted the two standing outside. He invited them in and motioned to the seat in front of his desk and asked Sting to sit. Not once did he talk to Lucy.

"So you agreed to the terms then? Interesting. Im impressed you got them to come down that low. Deals i have made with them in the past have ended rather badly in fact. They are a tough group." Jude trailed off as he began looking over what Sting had agreed to.

"Agreed sir. I'm rather impressed the conceded so easily. And they paid us pretty evenly anyway, but they didn't push for a high profit for themselves… which is weird." Sting looked at Jude, curious what he had to say.

"No kidding boy! Hell all they wanted was Layla's research? HA! I could throw it out a window and not care anyway. It's not like it had a purpose in business."

A single bead of sweat dropped down Stings cheek, he glanced to his side where Lucy stood behind him, and carefully replied, "Yes the research she had was... interesting."

"Interesting?" Asked Jude. "It was fucking pointless!" He stood in his seat and began to gesture wildly. "Some stupid research on nerve cells and reactive tissue hell that woman was so-"

"Father! Stop! She was your wife." Lucy yelled at him. "Show some respect."

"Respect? For what? The pointless research? Or maybe the idiotic things she invested in? She wasn't anything anyway, simply a person who lived here."

"THEN RESPECT HER BECAUSE SHE IS MY MOTHER!" Lucy yelled at the top of her lungs.

Her notes echoed through the study, bounding off the walls in synchronous melodies till it slowly sizzled away to a melancholy of silence. A pin could be heard drop from a mile away, it's reverbs would sound as if a plane had smashed into a building. In the entrance Virgo and Leo stood, aghast at what had happened. It wasn't very often that someone back talked a Jude Heartfilia

SMACK

A loud echo of skin on skin reverberated through the room, stunning it to silence again. Lucy fell to the ground, holding her hand to her cheek.

"You will not talk to your father like that you disgrace. Who do you think you are? You have no right to even claim her as your mother! Let alone deserve an ounce of respect." Jude sat back in his seat, ignoring Lucy entirely.

Lucy got up, and fled the room. Hiding the tears beginning to form in her eyes. She bounded past Leo, almost knocking the tray of cups out of his grasp.

"Lucy" said a voice.

"Sting?" she questioned. Turning around to face the voice it was indeed Sting, he had caught up to her and knelt next to her spot on the seat.

"Hey, i'm not gonna ask if your okay… I think we both know the answer to that." Sting placed a hand on her shoulder. Come on, ill escort you to your room." Sting got up and held his hand out to her.

"No, i'm fine Sting. But thanks i guess." Lucy got up, ignoring the outstretched hand. "I do everything alone anyway. Why would now be any different?"

"Lucy…" Sting stepped forward. "I honestly-"

"It's fine Sting, i know how my father is. And i know you respect Layla as your second mother…"

"She was your mother Lucy, make sure to call her that…" Sting took a step back to give her space.

"But what if he is right… what if i don't deserve it…?" Lucy wrapped her arms around her chest, looking sullenly at the earth.

"Lucy, you're a wonderful girl, you have so much-"

"Thats the problem isn't it?" Lucy interrupted him. "Im a girl… The business world… doesn't care. It was broken to begin with." She collapsed onto the ground beneath her, tears slowly beginning to form.

"Hey Lucy-"

"No Sting… Go see my father, Don't make him angrier than he already is… Please…" She stayed in her place in the hall as she watched Sting walk away, a frown plastered across his face.

Sting reentered the office of Jude Heartfilia, a false smile placing itself over his emotions. It was one he had held there for a long time. This man, he was cruel as he was shallow. If only he hadn't changed…

"Strike!" yelled a celebrating Levy. She stretched out her legs and flashed a grin at the group behind her. "You people are gonna have to catch up huh?"

The group consisting of Erza, Gray, Juvia, Gajeel, and Levy had taken a short night off to go bowling at one of the local alleys. They sat in awe as Levy, the shortest and assumed worst physically fit person in the group, kicked their asses. Scoring seven strikes in a row.

"Ok, Levy, i'm convinced you modified the bowling ball to make it flawless." Said a disappointed Gray as he flung another ball into the gutter. "There is no way that you should be able to do that."

"It's all in the hands gray, got to have skill." She winked at him and took her spot on Gajeel's shoulders back. Gajeel simply looked up slightly and shrugged.

The group turned as Juvia took a step forward, her sweats falling slightly lower as she focused on her target. She took another step forward and reared her hand back.

Then released.

The ball spiraled down the lane, making the droplet pattern shimmer across the surface like water in a storm. And it smashed into the front pin, rearing the rest back into the pit behind. To the side a single Pin stood, slowly spinning in a circle, its balance threatened by just the smallest breeze.

"Oh come on!" Juvia yelled, She slammed her foot onto the ground in protest.

The pin spun once more, then fell to the ground. The group said nothing as it fell, simply watching it rotate on the ground.

"Well, that was a good way to finish…" Erza said, she clapped Juvia on the back "not to bad."

"Well that's it." Gray said looking at the final results. "Me and Gajeel both finished last with 180 points, Erza came third with 194.-"

"Third? But how? I bowled flawlessly!"

"Um Erza, you straight up threw the ball through the air at the poor machine in protest because it you didn't knock all the pins over." Levy replied blankly

"Minor inconvenience." Gray and Juvia chuckled at her antics, Gajeel simply rolled his eyes.

"Well Levy got second with 240 points and Juvia got first with 310." Gray finished. "Congrats- wait HOW THE FUCK DID YOU BEAT LEVY?" Gray got up and started shaking her shoulders, in the meantime Juvia began to grow a shade of cherry red.

"Well,- Juvia started to bowl well quickly and i'm not bad i guess?"

"You guess? Oh whatever come on i need a drink after that. Yo Gaj you with me?" Gray asked.

"Always man, last one to the bottom has to take five shots from Cana's brew." Gajeel and Gray ran off to the car, Levy still perched on his shoulder."

"Wait why am i coming?" Levy asked?

"Your keeping score! The two boys called in unison"

"Well then… That was interesting." Erza watched as the three ran off to Gajeel's car "So you need a ride then Juvia?"

"Hmm?" She asked, to enticed watching Gray walk away. "Oh yeah i do. Thanks Erza."

Together the two walked outside, leaving the tight bowling shoes at the counter for the attendant to collect. The walked out into the darkening evening, the last licks of sunlight threatening to slip below the horizon. Erza hopped into her car and Juvia joined in the passenger seat. It was a bright red ford escape, the color of strawberries.

"So" Erza began, "This Natsu-"

"I swear i will cut someone tongue off if they continue asking about him." Juvia glared at Erza in protest.

"Oh, sorry, I'm just curious. We all are. You live with this magical boy who none of us have ever seen, except for occasional hints about where he lives… there isn't much in terms of information we know about him. We are all nervous about him Juvia. Hell you never have introduced him to us…"

"Yeah… I guess you're right. I try to get him to join us a lot… But i just can't get him to come."

"Isn't he the one who picks you up?" asked Erza.

"Yeah." Juvia answered.

"Well then i can meet him then right?"

"Um…" Juvia stuttered as she considered letting Erza meet him. "Well Natsu is kinda…"

"Let me guess he's some weird addict that you are trying to cure since he helped you from having to get help with college?" Erza asked.

"How the fuck do you-"

"I knew Natsu… along time ago… so did Gray actually. Levy did as well. But it was a long time ago." Erza trailed off as her mind began traveling back in time.

"Oh." Was all Juvia had to say. "What was he like then? Before i guess."

"Why are you so interested in him Juvia? You have secret crush on him?"

"No! Juvia still wants Gray… But… she is curious… and worried."

"Why's that?" Erza asked, genuinely curious about her answer.

"Why would someone… like Natsu in his current state, Help me? What made him do that… It means that there is still some shred of faith left in him… Something he holds on too."

Erza frowned for a moment, a shadow crossing her features as she focuses on the road ahead. 'Tell me Juvia, what does he usually wear?"

"Like his clothes?" Erza nods her head in response. "Well… He wears long sleeves, and sweatpants. Actually i have never seen him wear shorts. Or even a short sleeved shirt… and his scarf. It's always wrapped tightly around his neck."

"So he's hiding i guess. Why else would you wear that many clothes…"

"Why did you ask about that?" Juvia questioned.

"The Natsu we knew… He was the biggest ball of happy that you could ever meet. Always cheerful. Hell he never even wore shorts longer than his knees. In school he had so many girl crush on him, but he never even noticed… it's too bad… Gray has forgotten about him. And Levy has as well it seems. I was hoping that maybe one of them will recognize him at some point…"

"Oh… I expected that he was different… but not by that much…" Juvia settled back down in the passenger seat more, watching as the trees on the side of the road flew by.

"Yeah, he dropped out the week before he was going to graduate. So many people underestimated him… but suddenly… he just vanished into thin air. Never to be found."

"Well… Maybe you could help him?" juvia questioned. "He wanted me to call him once i was ready to be picked up…"

"Wait...Really? He asked you to call him?" Erza glanced at Juvia. Surprise obvious on her sharp features.

"Yeah, he always does. He's not too bad… But he's too hard on himself i guess."

"Well then don't waste any time, go ahead and call him. We can meet him at the park we started at today. And i guess we should make sure Gray remembered to lock his car since i'm assuming he won't be getting it tonight."

Juvia chuckles lightly and yawns. "Yeah, not a bad idea. Take em out sis. I'm gonna call Natsu real quick and make sure his is okay.

Water cascaded down from the shower head above. The room had become hard to see in, immense amounts of steam had piled up making a haze of heat around the entire room, threatening to suffocate the inhabitants. Each droplet a scorching sphere of liquid hot enough to make most people flinch to the touch.

Natsu stood under the showerhead, face leaned into the cascading stream of water pounding into the tile ground below. Here he stood, like he did often, fighting with himself.

Ugh, why don't you just kick her out? Natsu asks himself, he slowly began to lather his pink locks. He let them fall over his face as he answered himself back.

'Because she needs someone to help pay for it.'

But what does that matter? Have you seen yourself? Your such a fucking mess! No friends at all-

'Juvia is a-'

An acquaintance? Yes she is. His mind replies. You do nothing but work. Pathetic. Look what you can do? Fix a car. Yay! You really think this will help.?

"Yes i do" Natsu now mumbles out loud.

"You don't deserve something like that. You should just end this already. Nobody likes you anyway. You're just holding Juvia and everyone else back.

Natsu paused, trying to shove the thoughts away, subconsciously looking at the razor sitting on the shower shelf.

Pfff, you're just a burden anyway. Might as well. Look at all this you're doing. God, you're such a burden.

A single tear fell amidst the droplets of water. Falling, falling into the tiles below. Natsu removed his hand from his arm and looked down. Blood had begun to fall from the razer mark on his arm, Another slice joining the rest.

Good, suffer for what you cause others.

Fearing more onslaught, he lowered the razor again, its blade cutting quickly through the flesh on top. He felt nothing as the crimson fluid dripped below.

Simply relief.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to no one. He lowered the blade once again, lowering his eyes, and looked away.

Then he heard a noise

It was a simple tune. A song that he had learned to be among Juvia's favorite songs began playing

Hope the wound heals but it never does

That's cause you're at war with love

You're at war with love, yeah

The voice slowly began to echo through the room. Its tune a soft mellow flavour, calm like a stream, yet packed with emotion. Natsu got out of the shower, stepping onto the once dry ground below. Water began to drip down his stature and fall amongst the floor, building around his feet. He looked at the razor in his hand, then looked away instantly. He placed the blade back on the shelf.

"Thank you Juvia…" He then answered the phone.

"Hey Juvia, you done?" He asked as he slowly began to dry off. His voice reverting back to the stoic tone he wore atop all his emotions.

"Hey there Natsu," Said Juvia. "Glad you answered, thought you might have forgotten to grab your phone again."

"I just got done showering, i will be there in a few." At that natsu hung up.

Juvia sighed, then looked at Erza. "Well he will be here in a few."

"Well, hes still stubborn, he hasn't lost that at least. Its sad… to see someone so happy fall so low…"

"Yeah, with the way that you described- wait Erza are you crying?"

Erza sniffled, wiping her eyes quickly, "No! Im fine, dont worry about it, come on you said Natsu usually walks here then walks you back right? Lets meet him halfway."

Juvia stood still as Erza started to walk away. Hiding her face from the blue haired woman.

"So," Juvia said quietly, "it seems even the calmest person has cracks where they live…"

A few minutes passed, Juvia was not keeping track at this point. The conversation had moved over to the antics that Gray had been showing lately, and how much of an idiot Levy and Gajeel were for not going out yet. Ahead of them a single figure was walking down the street, a black hoodie covered most of his face. He was wearing sweatpants that hung low on his waist.

"Hey Natsu," Juvia said, she walked forward and put her arm on his shoulder, then pulled his hood off. "Juvia thinks there is no need for you to cover your hair."

"My hair is wet, and it's colder out."

"It's only 50 degrees Natsu" Said Erza.

Natsu stopped and glanced in Erza's direction. "Juvia," He said as he returned his attention to her. "Did you know someone was tailing you?"

"Yes, Juvia knew. In fact Juvia wanted her to." She replied, deliberately switching to third person to emphasize her point.

"Well, what did you call me for? Did you even need me to come if Erza was going to walk you home?"

"Well you asked me to Natsu." Juvia crossed her arms in front of her chest, leaning forward slightly

Natsu stopped and looked at her. How her call had stopped him from continuing bouncing around in his mind.

God she didn't even need you, pathetic.

Natsu looked down and began to walk back in the direction of his house.

"Natsu!" Juvia yelled, walking forward. "The hell are you doing?"

"Going home, If ya need me just call Juvia, you don't need me right now so i'm going to go home. Cya." Natsu paced himself till he vanished into the night, leaving the two girls alone for the time being. He continued walking at a fast pace, allowing the blocks and blank streets to dafe into the background. Slowly he walked into the house that he had lived in since he was a kid. Natsu stepped into the doorframe. The house was quiet, silent even. Not a single thing moved, all the lights were either off or dimmed.

Natsu walked into the kitchen grasping on the cupboard desperately, until he eventually found a box. This was a special box, hidden behind a cabinet and out of sight from Juvia. Slowly he took one of the contents out of the box, and placed the rest back in their hiding place.

Natsu walked outside into the backyard, posting himself onto the concrete step. Slowly blowing a smoke ring into the night, letting all his thoughts and worries fade to nothing as each puff relaxed him.

"Lucy i'm coming in" It was all the warning that she received as her father barged his way into her room. Making sure she had no time to prepare herself. Tears still streamed down her cheek from earlier, the wounds had not closed yet.

"Father! Go away, i'm not-"

"Girl i said LISTEN TO ME" Jude yelled, then sauntered over to stand above her shaking form lying on the bed. "You are such an idiot do you realize that? Nothing. NOTHING. YOu have contributed nothing to this world. What do you want to even do with your life girl?"

Below her, Lucy's phone buzzed once, she glanced at it but could only read the first part of it.

Sting: Hey, when your father begins asking my answer was….

"Lucy answer me!"

"What? Oh… Uh.. I guess i want to be a researcher… Like my moth-"

SMACK

"YOu idiot! Who do you think you are? You are my daughter, you will help me to pass on this company to someone capable of managing it."

"But father what-"

"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU WANT YOU FOOL." Jude yelled at the top of his lungs, scaring Lucy to silence. "When i said that you will take over the company it was a fact! You will accept this."

"I don't want your fucking company," Lucy yelled back, sitting up on her bed. "I just want to-"

"Too what? Live on your own wiles? Not happening you foolish girl." Jude turned and walked towards the edge of her room, making his way to the door. "Besides, daughter, i expect you to be a good housewife for him anyway."

"What?" Lucy questioned.

"You are marrying Sting next sunday. Then when i step down he can take over the company for me. Since you aren't capable to do it anyway."

Lucy sat in silence, the weight of everything that had been happening recently crashing on her shoulders. She knew her father wanted her and sting to get together eventually.

But to force it like this?

"But what about-"

"I don't give a damn what you want girl, you are stuck here anyway." At this Jude Heartfilia left the room, the silence pervading through the walls.

Lucy stared forward, in a state of shock. Everything she had ever dreamed of, for herself, had been crushed. Nothing that she could do. She collapsed onto her bed, a sobbing heap. No matter what she could do she could not save herself. She reached out desperately, grasping for something to squeeze, preferably one of her many stuffed animals she kept on her bed.

What she grabbed was not soft.

In fact it was the opposite. A dim memory, and a sad one. Forever captured in all elegance and beauty. THe grace of a regal. An image she could never forget. Her mothers picture. The one she had held for her entire life. She sat up in bed and clutched the corners, desperately hoping that some miracle could happen. Or perhaps she was stuck in a dream. One filled with the pure terror of the human mind.

She leaned back, removing the picture from her chest so she could get a solid glance at the woman she strived to be one day. Slowly she touched the top of the picture, moving her hand down slowly.

Then the reflection turned slightly. A reversed letter barely visible in the reflected light.

"What?" Lucy stated aloud. She looked closer at the image, shielding it from view of the lamp beside her. Nothing showed up. Slowly she moved it into the light, and the letter reappeared, very dimly visible in the top of the picture.

Eagerly she reaches fourth and unclasps the frame, removing the bindings of the covering. Lucy pulled the picture out as a reverend would a cross, it was an honour to hold. She flipped the picture over. Across the top, in simple handwriting was a message.

Dear Lucy,

Sometimes life is hard, sometimes it is easy.

When going becomes too much, when all hope seems to be lost remember.

Our best experiences come from doing.

Not from obeying.

A loving mother, Layla

Lucy stared at the text, soaking in the words of her mother's handwriting.

"What does this mean?" she thought to herself. She stared at the picture until a memory came, the last thing she had heard from her mother.

"Lucy, remember this advice. No matter what happens, life can continue, we just have to find the way to fix anything before it shatters beneath us. Never believe there is no hope. Never."

"How… how can i have hope?" Lucy stood up, her backpack slid off her bed, the contents spilling onto the floor. Many clothes now lay in a heap there.

"Our best experiences… come from doing… So maybe it's time to do something myself."

Lucy looked forward, a smirk slowly growing on her lips. "We will see who's in charge now… you bastard."

Lucy stood up and began rummaging things, choosing items at random and throwing them into her backpack.

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A/n: And thats all for now! Thanks for reading everyone!. Im on summer break now and hope to keep updating fast. Im REALLY enjoying writing this story and hope you are enjoying it too.

If you enjoyed it, have a question, or simply a response feel free to leave a review or message me directly. Thanks :D