Lucy sighed as she boarded the train to her waitress job, for the past week and a half Natsu had been hanging over her like a hawk, and watching her every movement. He even noticed yesterday when she was limping from her latest beating. He was getting too close for comfort and it was driving her crazy, don't get her wrong it was nice to have friends and all... but Lucy couldn't imagine the horrors that would happen to her and her siblings if someone were to find out about her abusive father. He would obviously think the worst and blame her for it. She doesn't know if she can take that kind of abuse like the last time someone hinted about it in front of him.

But an upside to it was everyone in the cafeteria was especially nice to her since the whole lunch tray incident.

The day she came back she was smothered with hugs and questions from her new friends and it brought tears to her eyes to see someone care so much about her. It felt so refreshing and clear that for a moment she wanted to live in that moment forever, but she knew she had a job to do and that was to get her brother and sister out of that horrible house.

Yesterday she had a waitress job interview and she got hired, she would work everyday after school for 3 to 4 hours while her sister and brother stayed for tutoring until she picked them up, then later into the night around 11 or 12 she would go to the local grocery store and re-shelf the shelves until 2 or 3 am, depending on what time she comes in. Her father thought she was after staying for tutoring and she wouldn't have to worry about anybody finding her missing at night for the second job since her father didn't care and her brothers and sisters would be asleep.

So far her plan was fool proof and she was excited that everything was falling into place. Today would be the first day she started and she sighed walking into the restaurant she would be working at, 8 Island. She had turned down her friends wanting to hang out today after school because she had to work and couldn't afford to miss out on her first day.

After putting her stuff down and clocking in Lucy put her apron on over her uniform and grabbed a notepad and pen to take orders before heading out to wait her section of tables.

Natsu POV~

Sighing Natsu putting his hands behind his head and followed Erza, Gray, Gajeel, Levy, Juvia, Mira, and Laxus into the restaurant Mermaid Heel.

"Natsu?" Erza called turning her head slightly to look back at him.

"Hm?" He asked coming out of his train of thought.

"Are you still bummed Lucy couldn't make it?" She asked a slight smirk crossing her features.

"Pfft." He said blushing lightly as he pulled his scarf over his mouth mumbling a small 'no... whatever' before following after his now laughing friends. He stopped however when they reached the restaurant and saw a vibrant blonde ponytail bouncing back and forth as their beloved friend Lucy ran back and forth delivering food and drinks to nearby tables. He smiled instantly and led the way into the restaurant holding the door open for everyone to file in.

"Yo Lucy!" He called causing her to turn from the table she was at and gasp, a mix of emotions crossing her face as she noticed their group. She finished her table and took the tip stuffing it in her pocket as she made her way over to them.

"O-oh hey guys. What are you guys doing here?" She asked tilting her head.

"This is what we meant by hanging out after school." Gray smiled motioning to the restaurant, "They have a killer arcade." He chuckled pointing to the back of the restaurant. Lucy only smiled in response before grabbing a stack of menus and utensil packs.

"Shall I lead you guys to your table?" She asked smiling and leading the way to a group booth in the back of the restaurant near the arcade and a view of outside.

"Damn Luce, thanks for the awesome booth." Natsu smiled nudging her with his elbow as he slid into the booth after everyone. "When did you start working here?" He asked once they were all situated.

"Uh today actually." She smiled pulling out her notepad to write down their orders. "Can I get you guys anything to drink?" She asked going back into work mode and jotting down their orders with a smile before walking away to get their drinks.


Lucy POV~

Lucy sighed as she hung up her apron, yawning tiredly as she dragged her feet towards the bus stop. Her amazing friends had given her a $50 dollar tip and they had no idea how much it meant to her, after they left a tear slipped down her cheek and now she smiled at the memory, leaning her head back on the bus seat. She groaned and checked the time on the bus clock.

7:30

She asked the bus driver to stop and got off to walk the corner to her brother and sisters school smiling when they ran up to her and hugged her in greeting. She showed them the $70 she made in tips today and their eyes brightened as they jumped up and down in glee. Hugging them close they walked the rest of the way home and Lucy put her money in her stash before setting to work on dinner.

Within a few moments dinner was ready and her father stomped down the hallway as she shuffled her brothers and sisters up the stairs. She locked them in her room and walked down to the basement to retrieve the laundry. She grabbed the basket and gasped as it was slapped from her hands.

Gulping Lucy looked up and was met with the angry stare of her father. She took a step back but whimpered as he pulled her hair and dragged her up the stairs. He gripped her hair until they came to the kitchen.

"What is this Lucy?" He hissed into her ear, turning her face towards the plate of fried chicken Lucy had made.

"I-i-it's fried chicken, da-... sir." He pulled her hair harder causing her to cry out as he slammed her face into the plate of food.

"What makes you think I want this garbage!?"

"I'm sorry! Bu- I just- it- I wasn't sure what you would like s-so I just made wh-what we had." She gasped trying to hold back the tears and cupping her now bloody nose.

"I don't give a damn what we do and don't have you good for nothing whore!" He snapped slapping her across the face.

"Next time you will make what I want you to cook for dinner, IS THAT CLEAR?!" He growled lifting Lucy by her throat.

She gasped for air and gripped at his hands as his grip tightened around her neck.

"Ye-" She wheezed as her air source was cut off, she could only nod. She covered her head as he threw the dinner over her, dropping her and walking out of the house with his keys.

She sat on the floor gasping and coughing for a few minutes, trying to catch her breath. Leaning her head back against the wall she let a few silent tears slip down her cheeks. She stayed like this for a few moments before cleaning up the kitchen and retreating upstairs to get ready for work.


Lucy pulled up her scarf once again as she made her ways through the hallways of Fairy Tail High, her father's actions last week left her with very nasty bruises on her neck. Natsu, being the innocent dork that he is, had tried to take Lucy's scarf as a joke and she had shrunk away rather violently causing a piece of her scarf to fall, he hadn't looked at her the same since.

She was starting to get suspicious that he knew something but the next week he was back to his bubbly personality and looking at her with the same childish gaze as before the scarf incident.

Lucy rarely slept because of her late night job and she was pretty sure her friends were starting to notice.

Ahh, the perks of having friends.


Lucy sighed and rubbed her back as she walked home from her late night job of re-shelving at the local grocery store.

It had been two months since she started working there and she had raised up to $250 with the tips and weekly pay from her waitress job along with the small amount given from the grocery store.

She would of had more but some of it went to paying for a cast for Asuka, last week their father broke her leg when throwing her and Lucy down the stairs. Although Lucy's body took most of the blows she landed wrong on it and their father didn't help by stomping on it.

Lucy sighed remembering she had to skip school today to take Asuka to the hospital for a check-up. She jogged the rest of the way home and checked the clock.

5:00 a.m.

She frowned and made a quick breakfast of an omelet like her father had asked for the morning before and went upstairs with the rest of the food for her and the kids.

Lucy set the plates on her bedside table before locking the door to her bedroom and taking a quick shower. When she got out Asuka was already waiting to take a shower with her clothes. Lucy smiled and wrapped her cast in a bag given to her by the doctor. She then helped her wash up and take a shower.

Looking at the clock once again Lucy grabbed Haru's things and let him take a shower while she got Asuka's hair fixed up.

"Hey sis..." Asuka started quietly.

"What is it Asu?" Lucy smiled gently braiding the younger girls hair into a french braid.

"Why is daddy like the way he is?" She questioned innocently causing Lucy to stop mid braid, and her shoulders to sag.

"I'm n-not sure Asu." She said quietly, her eyes filling with hurt and pain.

"I don't like d-daddy. I want the old daddy back." Asuka cried gently, her small shoulders shaking as sobs wracked her body. Lucy pulled her close and rubbed soothing circles on her back until she calmed down.

"Don't worry about dad now alright Asuka? Remember just a few more months and I can afford that apartment we were looking at. Remember the one with the plot of land in the back?" She smiled thinking back to when her, Asuka and Haru had gone house scouting.

"Yeah... Then I can plant a garden, and we can grow fruits, and vegetables, and flowers, and even paint the house." She squeaked smiling once again. Lucy nodded and turned to grab Haru's book bag and hand it to him.

"Now let's get Haru to school, he can't be late." Asuka and Haru nodded enthusiastically and started down the stairs, Asuka using her brother to balance.

"Mental note..." Lucy whispered quietly to herself, "Get Asuka a crutch." She locked the door behind them and they made their way to school. Stomping sounded from inside the house and Lucy, along with Haru and Asuka, picked up their pace as their father stomped out of the house.

Haru turned to look and tugged on Lucy's sweater.

"Lucy dad's following us." He whispered shakily. She turned to look back and sure enough their father was stomping down the sidewalk after them.

"Shit." Lucy cursed silently as her and the kids picked up the pace.

"LUCY!" Her father shouted behind them, but she ignored him as her and the kids turned the corner.

Asuke whimpered as she thumped along on her leg and Lucy knelt down so she could climb onto her back. Her and Haru broke into a sprint as Jude ran after them.

They turned corners and boarded a bus a few miles away. Lucy paid the driver to hurry and they flopped into some bus seats panting.

"What is his deal." She hissed to herself unaware of the pair of caramel eyes that had followed her movement onto the bus.


A/N~ Sorry if this chapter is a bit sucky. I wanted to skip forward a little so Lucy and the kid's can show their growth a little more. This was basically a filler chapter for the next chapter, A Witness xD.