Thank you to all those who had reviewed on the last chapter, I really appreciate it, even when some said it made you upset, or touched on unwanted feelings. I do apologise.

There are a few things I want to discuss. First, Natsu and Lisanna do care and love for Nashi, they are trying to take her feelings into account, but when you really think about Nashi, does it seem like she would ever be okay with it? Would she really be so quick to accept them together? No.

If you read between the lines, Nashi –in some ways – is trying to make herself like her mother. Wanting to be her. Not just be like her. That is unhealthy, and she still is in mourning. Between the three of them it is not Natsu and Lisanna being unfair, it is more Nashi that is being unfair. So uncaring of their feelings, she hasn't really thought about them being together. In her mind she feels like Lisanna will take her mother's place, when she isn't trying to replace Lucy. She isn't.

A Fairy Tail Fanfic

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. I do however own Nashi, Eric, and Jorden. And this story.

Chapter 4: The offer

Loke was the first to bend down and drop the heap of flowers in front of the stone, his fingers lingering on the green stem before standing up again, looking down at the ground where unearthly thoughts rumbled in his head. His first thought was, Lucy.

Lucy, his master - his past master – he corrected to himself. She was just mere feet below him, under soil and stone. But in a place where no magic could reach her, no place where he could speak to her, no place where he could ever hold her again. And there was no point in pretending that would happen again, her remains were just bones by now.

Slowly Nashi bent down after Loke stepped aside, and with more care placed a more peculiar coloured rose in front of the stone. It was crimson, deeper than red, so dark in places it almost looked black. It was sort of transfixing to look at, Nashi observed.

Sadder images went through her mind; her mother laying peacefully below her, not decomposed but almost like she was resting, still in her youth unknowing that her one living child was above her mourning her long past death. And for a brief moment Nashi wished she was under the soil with her mother.

There were things that both of them wanted to say, but neither wanted to say in front of the other. Loke loved Lucy, everyone knew that, even Natsu. But the day she had a ring on her finger he stepped back, and only remained a loyal friend a call away. Loke ached to speak to her, and in a distant part of himself, he felt there would be a day again he would hold her in his arms, and this time protect her from a death that was not inevitable.

Nashi's feelings were a lot less nice, she wanted to lighten her chest on recent events, she wanted to speak about her father, and she wanted to speak about her mother's best friend. She wanted her mother to speak to her. She wanted her mother. Hot tears fell but she did not bother to wipe them away. What was the point, to pretend that she wasn't hurting?

And she wanted her father to be there with her, by his wife's grave again. His visit's had slowly become less frequent.

Instead they both stood silently with unsaid words resting in their chest, waiting to be spoken aloud when alone.

The sky suddenly seemed to turn grey, and a new person was coming towards them. There was no mistaking the long white hair, the tall slime stature, and the intense diaphanous blue eyes. It was the barmaid, Mirajane. Once a former S-class mage. Her steps long and quick, so quick she almost looked like she was gliding on the ground. It was slightly unsettling.

They did not walk up to meet her but waited until she was in front of them. Her pretty face that seemed to retain youth, appeared to look like she had aged ten years- you could see that small lines in her forehead, the faint smile lines by her mouth. Her model days not behind her.

"I heard," She started with almost sympathetic tone, "that Lisanna has moved in with you?"

Lisanna was moving around the kitchen feeling like she was in a foreign household, despite the familiar surroundings she had known for years, there was a feeling of hate clinging to the walls wherever she moved. This was Lucy's house, now it was hers. And there was something wrong about that, it left behind a dry feeling in her throat and the air tasting stale when she breathed it in. This only showed just how out of place she felt

There was a constant feeling that something was about to go wrong at any moment, an explosion of family drama and pain, conflict, and the subconscious fear that she would get kicked out, yelled at, rejected – thrown outside.

The fear was real. But the reality of it was not, at least about being thrown out on the streets.

A new presence entered the kitchen. It was Natsu, he looked at his fiancé who was trying to busy herself with dinner, determined to make something nice for them. His fiancé had revealed she had taken Ezra's advice and gone to speak to his daughter one-on-one but never found out what had happened between them, but by watching their stiff postures when they were in the same room as the other, he could only guess that none of it went too well.

"You know, I was thinking," Natsu started, playfulness rolling off his voice, his eyes twinkling.

"Oh no, he was thinking," her own humour seeping in, earning a chuckle from Natsu. "What will go wrong now?" she breathed out.

"I was thinking, he repeated, "That we should take some time away, for a week."

Lisanna turned to face Natsu, "And leave Nashi? Alone?"

"She isn't changing with us around, she is merely making everything more strenuous, and I think we could benefit from it."

The white haired mage looked thoughtful, it was true Nashi wasn't improving – and it's not like they hadn't tried either. They talked to her one-on-one, and as a 'family' and none of it had gone well. So maybe what she needed was space, and this time where they were physically gone to minus any complexities she will face coming to term with them.

All of this was hurting Lisanna, she felt like she was breaking this family apart, that she would be forcing Natsu to choose between Lisanna and his only child. She knew what he would choose, but that is not where she wanted things to veer.

"I think that's a great idea. When would we leave?"

"Not next week, Nashi has her first official mission, the week after."

Lisanna nodded and turned back to the boiling bot on the stove, watching the small bubbles rise to the surface.

Slowly I will get use to this. She thought. Natsu seemed to sense her thoughts, and came to stand behind her wrapping his arms around her waist, it was nothing tantalising. Burying his face in the crook of her neck.

"It will get better," He promised, but he wasn't sure he could keep that promise.

Nashi sat at bar in the guild swinging her feet idly below her in a bored fashion on her stool, the heat wave was coming and the sun had risen to its highest point in the sky glowering down at anybody that wasn't indoors. It was only going to get worse. Normally this wouldn't bother Nashi, but a few drops of sweat rolled down from her hair line and down her back.

The weather making everyone lazy and lax, lousy. Which was understandable. The one common sound that was heard all around her was the crunching of ice people chewed and any other beverages was undesirable. Some people had gone as far to cover themselves with frozen bags of various vegetables, why they didn't just stay home she didn't know – Nashi having a reason to not be there.

But sweltering heat or not, Mira was curious to why her sister – an epitome of asceticism – had moved in with Natsu so early in Nashi's transition to the news. Fraught with uncertainty it looked like she would have to ask the last person she wanted. The blonde youth.

She would have to tread carefully, "So, how things at home?" Stupid question, and an obvious answer. But she needed to get her to slowly easy into the conversation, it was like Nashi was a deer that could easily be startled away – so easy and simple conversation was on the list.

Shrug, "Weird."

"I bet, has there been any weird adjustments, new rules set in place?" The take-over mage placed a chopping board in front of her, and began to choose her ingredients. Ostensible motions to give her a reason to be close to make small talk.

"Not really, I haven't been at home too much, I'm there a little in the mornings, I leave and I come back close to curfew." Mira frowned.

"I heard you started a team with, Eric? Or was that nothing but a rumour to get my hopes up?" She simpered, knowing she would engage a better conversation out of the teenager.

Her brown startled eyes looked up to look at the barmaids face, wondering if she was catching onto a hidden meaning behind the words, "I did start a team with Eric. We're going on a mission next week."

"Sounds interesting, you should start looking now. With everyone relaxing and staying about it would be a good to start finding something simple."

That hadn't occurred to her, peaking at the request board over her should where for once no one was standing around browsing at it. Except Nab. She would find a job today with Eric when he came to the guild.

"I guess so." She paused wondering if it was okay if she could open up on something. "But can I ask you something?"

Keeping her tone even, "Of course."

"Can you talk to Lisanna?" At this the barmaid looked up and stared at the teen, cogs and turns working in her head.

"Something wrong?"

"I just … I want someone to talk to her. I know she is miserable, and I don't want her to be."

"Aren't you mad at her?" Pushing the onion aside with the knife.

"Aren't you?" The blonde snipped back.

There was a small pause where she was trying to gather the words she was looking for, "I think she is in a tough situation, and I want to talk to her. But it's hard when she's avoiding me. She is under a lot of pressure, from you and the guild. She feels … rejected, Nashi."

Guilt sunk within Nashi, and for a brief moment she wondered whether she should back out of her plan or let it go forth.

"I only see her as my aunt," stilling her swinging feet, trying to collect her own words.

"And nothing will change between you, just that … her name will be on a piece of paper saying she is in your family. And don't bite my head off when I say this, but you could be kinder to her. Try and talk with her, it might not be so bad."

These were all words she didn't want to hear. "If I talk to her, will you?"

"Like, a, convention?"
"No, separately. I'm not happy with her … but I don't want her to be unhappy. I've had her all through my life, longer than my mum, so I don't want her to be unhappy. I just don't want her to be my mum, period."

Mira nodded and started on the tomatoes, "I'll talk to her later."

"Thanks, see you next time." Jumping off the stool and heading for the request board, and at the same time seeing Eric enter through the doors.

"Be safe!" She couldn't see Mira's face but she knew she was smiling.

Between the two of them they had five request spread before them on a table, the rewards weren't big but they weren't small either.

"What about this one, it's a one day travel?" Eric pointed down to a smaller request, a simple escort mission to protect some cargo two towns over for three nights.

"But if we do this one we get a higher reward."

"Protect people on a camping trip?" his voice miffed, "They're not even camping anywhere dangerous, and we don't even travel anywhere. It's a little out of town, not a real travel. Besides, we need to do something that shows we're competent and that we work well, rewards don't matter yet anyway."

This was all true, and he raised a point. "Fine, we'll escort the cargo. And if we do well we won't have to bring your parent's again."

Standing up together, "Let's take it over to Mira and get it signed off, and tell my parents. And since this mission is due in three days we can leave this week."

"Cool, I'll go home and tell my dad. Meet you here at the guild later?"

"Sure."

When Nashi arrived home she could smell the sweet smell of omelettes wafting from the kitchen, and Mira's words came back to her.

She doesn't have to talk to Lisanna now ….

The first thing Nashi did see however was her father sitting on the landing of the stairs awaiting his daughter entry, now, he never did this unless something was up or Nashi was in the shit.

Her eyes narrowed but they met her father's deceiving relaxed ones, showing no signs of anger or alarm.

"I heard something interesting today," he started. Reclined on the steps, elbows supporting behind him, legs stretched in front of him crossed. There was no trade mark grin.

Uh oh.

Nashi knew this tone, she knew he found out something. This was going to become a battle of some type of confrontation.

"Really?" play it safe. Play it safe. Play it safe. She chanted in her head.

"Yeah, Mira called." The gossiper! Small anger boomed in her chest.

"What did she have to say?"

Natsu watched her, hopping the silence would push her into revealing something. Or maybe say something he didn't know about. It worked on her as a kid.

When she didn't say anything and claimed a 'confused' expression he spoke, "Well, you chose a job today."

Tension left her shoulders. "Yeah, and?"

"And, it's with Eric."

"You know all of this, dad. I told you this morning."

"But he is a boy, and you two will be away together on missions –"

"And his parents are coming with us," she interjected.

"Only this time, though. They won't be there all the time –"

Annoyance soaked her voice, "And when you were my age you had already joined the guild ten years before, and by this point had already met mum, and was going on missions with her. I even heard you used to break in this house and sleep in her bed."

Anger and shock exploded in his face, "That was –"

"Different. Because you must have been so mature, you must have been a real super individual as a seventeen year old boy."

Though it was a valid point, there was a line to how far you could push things with you parents, especially when you were right. Natsu stood up from his position and stalked into another room disquietly.

Past the stairs was the kitchen doorway, and not so discreetly was Lisanna who overheard the conversation. Guilt moved in both girls.

Nashi darted up the stairs and Lisanna steeled herself in the kitchen holding back tears. Reminded once again whose house this truly belonged to.

Night couldn't have taken longer to fall, Nashi waited patiently on her window seat looking down at the street waiting for the lights to turn on lining the cannel.

There was a soft knock on the door, it was Natsu. He must have cooled down if had come to talk to her again, though his face still darkened from their earlier conversation.

"Can we talk again?" It wasn't a question but his daughter nodded. "I don't like us fighting." She didn't answer but hearing the beat of her heart speed up he knew she agreed.

"What is it?" her tone soft and non-accusing.

"Tell me honestly how you are right now, with everything."

"You mean about you and Lisanna?"

"No, whatever's on your mind. You don't usually get fired up so quickly. What's up?" His face was hard but his eyes were soft, concerned and kind.

She wanted to say what was on her mind, she was to tell the truth. But there was still that evil little monster in her, the Godzilla in everyone.

"Tired."

"Just tired?"

"No … I'm annoyed, a little angry, and …" Looking for another word.

"You're just a little angry?" He teased.

Natsu hadn't said it in a way to provoke her, but something in her snapped, "And, when was the last time you visited mum's grave?"

Natsu winced, "I'll come with you this week."

"I already went today."

There was heavy silence buzzed in the room.

"Let's go have dinner, Lisanna made you omelettes." There was no point in continuing the conversation if it would turn into another quarrel.

The dinner had a great serving of tension as its main course, a little suppressed anger as its side dish. But the omelettes were good though.

Lisanna broke the silence, "So what's the news today?" Both their postures were ridged, sending heated glares at each other. Blonde vs Pink, Lisanna thought.

"Well, Eric and I are going on a mission this week."

Natsu blanched and swallowed quickly, "This week?"

"It's a one day travel two towns over, and it last for three days before we return again." Purposely poking at his short fuse, keeping her voice dismissive.

Keeping her tone light, "Sounds fun, what is it?"

"Guarding some cargo, nothing big."

"Those missions are usual more trouble than they are worth, bandits come in most of the time. I remember this one time I met this gang called 'The jingle butt gang'. They were something." Natsu wanted at the very least try and scare of what could happen, but still nostalgia crept in his voice.

Lisanna looked between the two on the round wooden table, it was like the rain before the storm – and it was brewing. Another reminder that she had caused a wedge between them.

"You know, I think it would be good to get this type of experience straight away. It really proves, no, reminds me how capable you are. Soon you'll be in the big leagues." Cutting apart her omelette without making eye contact. She could feel Natsu's burning gaze on her cheek, and Nashi's surprise radiating from her body.

"Really?" Lisanna said surprised.

"Yeah, I wish I could be there with you to see you. But I know how important it is to do something on your own -"

"But," Natsu quickly interjected, "It would always be nice if you came on missions with us, and you wouldn't need to bring Eric along, just bring you. Just you. Or if it suits you better, we could come on your missions whenever you wanted. So after this your first mission, how about we all go on a mission together –"

"Dad, no –"If he heard her, he didn't listen.

"And we can go on camping trips –"

"You're starting to sound like Gildart's-"

"And we all just have the best time. You'll love it, I know you will!" There was nothing clearer then the fact that Natsu didn't approve of Nashi and Eric's team. Nothing.

Pardoning herself from the table, "We'll I should get going, I don't want to be late." Practically gliding out of the kitchen as she went.

"Where are you going, we're having dinner. Family, together. At this table, now." And japing the table with a finger to indicate her to sit back down.

"I can't dad –"Holding onto the door frame.

"Yes you can, where are you going?"

"Master wants to talk to me, I promised him I would …" Letting the lie sink in, Natsu backed down a little.

"What for?" The edges of his face seemed tighter, and his eyes looked at her suspiciously. Nashi's mind raced to come up with a lie. "What did you do?" After a longer pause.

Lisanna stayed quiet, her opinion wouldn't matter yet. Once it did …

"Nothing, jeez. Do you really think I've done something? I know you're still mad at me, and that you don't like my team, but you shouldn't have to jump to conclusions." The fine art of misdirection harnessed.

"I just want to know."

"Master just wants to talk to me. See how things are …" Natsu bristled, and Nashi realised her mistake.

"I've known that man since I was a child, if he wanted to know how things are he could just come and talk to me." He glowered.

"No, not about … that stuff … he just wants to know about my team, and if I want to expand since there are so many people my age in the guild now … since you know, it's really popular …" Natsu's shoulder's lost their tension and he nodded.

"Be back before eleven, be safe and watch out for any creeps. Actually, call out one of your spirits to walk you there. Better yet, call out Taurus. He has a big axe … could scare away any bloke that came near you –"

"Byedadloveyou." And running out the door before he voiced anymore of his thoughts on his daughter.

The cold wind hit her face quickly and a few steps out the door a golden light explodes beside her, and there was Loke again.

His suit tonight was dark blue, and a black shirt beneath it. Matching his tinted glasses as he smirked down at her, "You weren't going to call us out were you?"

She smiled bashfully back, "I was just going to run there …"

Clicking his tongue, "I may not have Taurus's axe but I'm still handy you know. Plus, now that we will be on real missions, you'll see me at my full power." The thought excited her.

"I can't wait." Grinning back Loke extended his arm out to her, Nashi lopping her arm with his.

"You're becoming more like you're mother every day. It's a wonder how everyone keeps it together around you …" It slipped out, he froze next her cursing himself under his breath. He waited for a reaction but she gave none.

"Let's just go to the guild."

The guild was lively, there had never really been a shallow evening among the ruckus known as Fairy Tail. Mira was off shift and for once was on the stool being served by a youth she didn't know. Loke slipped away in the crowed to find a table for himself, a few older generations coming to chat with him. Despite the fact that Loke never aged, no one turned bitter over it like he suspected. Instead taking it stride. Plus, it eased them to know there was someone that would be left behind when they all passed on that was from they're generation. In their mind, and everyone else's that was currently in Fairy Tail, one of the best groups to ever to pass through – and Loke was the one that would solidify them.

Juvia and Gray chatted animatedly over a table, Juvia still wanted another child. Gray's protesting point was that they're one son was bad enough, and didn't want to risk another shit stirrer in the guild.

Eric was easy to spot, sitting at a table besides Gray's son; Jorden who smiled impishly when he saw Nashi amble over.

"And here I thought she wouldn't to show, the girl of the hour!" Nashi smiled politely taking a seat across from him. Jorden was very … hard to bring down with his overly enthusiastic attitude. And was constantly smiling, and it was all a little overbearing. The Juvia in him.

Eric had his arms crossed on the table and gave Nashi a toothy grin. He had his hair pulled back in pun, which exposed a new piercing at the top of ear. "Jorden heard about our team," he said lightly in a non-accusing tone. "He wants to join."

Jorden grinned over the table looking relaxed in his chair, "I heard from mum and dad who heard it from Levy and Gajeel …" he waved his hand dismissively before turning serious. "And do you think I could join? There are other people here, but I want someone in our circle …" Nashi stilled, she hated it when people referenced to the 'original' guild members as the tight circle that no one else was allowed in, it was a unnecessary superiority.

"I don't know … we have our first mission in three days and it's a bit late to add extra changes, let's find out after Eric and I have done it, so that way we are 'competent.'" Jorden nodded thoughtfully.

"Well maybe when you come back. Hey, on brighter side I know a party we can all go to a party tomorrow night." He grinned further to show all his teeth.

Eric shrugged, "What's the occasion?"

"No occasion, just fun. Free booze, good DJ and good old fashioned black lights." His pitch wasn't interesting, but to Nashi who was more prone to getting into mischief because of recent events triggering her 'rebellious' side.

Eric looked sideways at her, studding her face. He had known her long enough to know when she was plotting, or when she was in a thought process. But there seemed to be a darker intent behind it all this time. He frowned slightly, he wasn't into a party scene where nothing good came out of it – he was sensible, smart. He wasn't going to do something stupid.

"I'm in," The blonde declared.

"Cool, babe." Jorden spoke. 'Babe' was what he said to every female – so it was not taken personally to either. "And you?" Looking at the rocker whose eyes narrowed.

"Out." Folding his arms over his chiselled chest.

"Well maybe next time, I'll pick you up or will we meet there?" Arranging for Nashi to meet Jorden outside the party (because Natsu would get suspicious if he turned up at the front door for Nashi despite the fact that they were childhood friends), getting the details on the location and time. Eric looked ahead stone faced. If he went with Nashi he felt like he would almost be encouraging her to this behaviour.

All three rising in amicable, Jorden said his goodbye quickly and left leaving Nashi and Eric alone.

"You know he is a shit stirrer, any party from him is trouble." He looked sideways at Nashi from his peripheral vision. Nashi looked at him directly but shrugged half-heartedly.

"You'll have to sneak out of your house, because there is no way he will let you leave –"

"It's starts at eight and I can pretend I went to bed early."

"Would that really work?"

The blonde tucked her hair behind her ear, "We need to think about other things first, about our mission. Where will we stay?"

"Its cargo on a train really, we just have to sit and watch it, then take it by hand for a day to another town … And my dad said this is where any robbers we'll come in since were on foot. Mum already got the room situation sorted though … and the last day we reach our destination and go home, simple, easy … and then were competent to take harder things on our own."

"Alrighty, then I'll head home. Don't want to break curfew –"Eric grinned at hearing this.

Smugly he said, "You still have curfew?"

Pink crept into her cheeks, "Shut up. I'm a girl, do you think he would let me stay out late?"

"Why not? You're at the guild, it's safer then your home. Everyone's home really." That was all true, but it came down to the fact that Natsu was crazy protective and there was no way he would let his only child (and it was worse because she was a girl) out late. No way. But Nashi was sure Natsu had never had to deal with strict rules like she did.

"Well I have to go anyway. Night," she smiled.

Reaching out and ruffling her hair - something she didn't mind Eric doing, "Night Nash."

THE DRAMA IN THE NEXT CHAPTER OMG, IT'S KILLING ME. I HOPE FOR YOUR SAKE YOU HAVE PICKED WHO YOU WANT TO SHIP NASHI WITH. BECAUSE IF YOU HAVEN'T YOU WILL NOW!

Anyhow … I have already began the next chapter. I got a little stuck on this one and I didn't know where I wanted to go with it. But I have written a more detail chapter of what I want to happen – now I just have to write it.

Please, review!