Y'all are the best. Seriously. Aye, thanks so much for 100+ reviews! I know I don't reply very often, but I read each and every single one of them. Just wanted to let you know. ^_^

This chapter was fairly enjoyable to write! Hope you'll like it!

After bidding Natsu farewell, Lucy trudged into her house. Her shoulders sagged downwards, and her hair was beginning to take on a frizzy look after being kept down for the entire day. She desperately wanted to get upstairs to her room and tie it up, but she knew she had to say something to her father beforehand.

"Good afternoon, Lucy," Jude said as he entered the foyer. His hands were behind his back and he was looking at his daughter with his regular stern gaze.

Lucy bit back a sigh, wondering how today's argument was going to be like.

"Hi, Father," she said while reaching down to take off her uniform shoes. Jude's stare didn't lift from her as she worked. Lucy finally turned to him again after she finished putting away her things. "Do you need something?" she asked.

Jude didn't stop looking at her when he replied, "Who was that boy you were with just now?"

Lucy visibly stiffened. "He's… just a classmate, Father."

"Which class do you two share?"

"We… we don't share any classes. He's in the class after mine," Lucy said, shifting her weight onto her other foot.

"Why were you two walking home together?" Jude confined to question. "Lucy. What is going on."

"Nothing is going on, Father. I just made a new friend, that's all. I was walking home with a big group of boys and girls and he was the last one to leave."

Jude lifted an eyebrow. "Who's in this big group of yours?"

"I don't see why it matters."

"Anyone I know of?"

"Levy, Erza, Cana, Mira, Lisanna, Juvia," Lucy listed in a monotonous voice. "And I guess now you know who Natsu is."

"This Natsu boy hangs around that many girls on his own?" Jude asked. "Is he not interested in the opposite sex?"

Lucy flared up. "F-Father! Why would you ask that question?"

"I'm just wondering, Lucy. I want to know the kind of people you're friends with."

"Are you opposed to the idea of me hanging around gay people?" Lucy asked, biting her fleshy tongue after speaking like that to her father.

Jude didn't seem to notice, though. "It isn't that, Lucy. I just want to know if there are any of his own friends in this group of yours."

"Girls can be friends with guys, Father," Lucy said pointedly.

"I know that. You didn't answer my question."

Lucy gulped. "I… yes. Gray Fullbuster and Gajeel Redfox."

"Just two?"

"Well, I know they're friends with Jellal Fernandes, Alzack Connell, Lyon Vastia, Elfman Strauss, and Laxus Dreyer, though Laxus doesn't go to our school anymore."

"I see. Why's that?"

To say that Lucy was confused would be an understatement. She was beyond perplexed at her father's sudden interest in her choice of friends. She had no idea why he was suddenly acting this way, but she didn't dare question it.

"Transferred," Lucy said. "His dad wanted him to go to a different school for a while."

"Is there something wrong with Fairy Tail High?"

"Nothing's wrong. It was a personal choice."

"I see," Jude nodded, moving to the large window in the room. He stared out it for a few seconds, before Lucy's curiosity got the better of her.

"What happened today? You don't usually take an interest in this sort of thing," Lucy said with a pointed look. Jude glanced over his shoulder.

Her interest was officially spiked. There had to be some kind of internal motive on her father's side.

She was pleasantly surprised when the only response she got was, "I just want to know how you're doing in school. As your father, I need to make it my duty to see to it that you have reliable people who you can trust."

Lucy blinked. "Does this mean I'm not grounded anymore?" she asked slowly. "Please, Father, you're even going on a business trip tomorrow and I'll have nothing to do."

Jude looked thoughtful for a moment. "Very well. I will lift your punishment," he nodded. "I am a good father, right?"

Lucy coughed loudly. "What?"

"I'm a good father, correct?" Jude repeated, intent on getting a proper answer from his daughter.

"I don't know what to tell you, Father," Lucy said, looking away. "Can we have this conversation on a later date? I want to pick out my outfit for tomorrow."

That made Jude's eyebrow raise. "Tomorrow? Do you have plans?"

Lucy froze. Shoot. She didn't mean to reveal that little bit. There was no way he was going to let her be alone with two boys her age.

"J-just a bit of shopping," she said finally. "I haven't been to the Plaza in a while, so I wanted to go tomorrow."

"Are you going with anyone?"

"Friends."

Jude nodded. "Alright. Be safe, Lucy."

Lucy gulped, still very unsure how to handle this situation.

"I will," was all she said, before quickly turning and disappearing up the stairway to her bedroom.

"Wait, Lucy!" Jude called out to her, grabbing her attention right before she began walking up the steps.

Lucy turned, seeing as her father walked over to the corner of the room, picking up a small speaker and holding it out to her.

"What?" she asked, intrigued by his actions.

Jude held the speaker up to her. "Listen to these tapes I found in the basement. I was hearing them today, and I think I've resparked my old love for classical music."

"Classical music?" Lucy questioned, walking up to him and taking the device from his hands. "What do you mean? Are these classical tapes?"

Jude nodded, his mouth adorning a small smile. Lucy had never seen him smile before, so she couldn't blame her jaw from dropping.

"Your mother and I used to go to concerts all the time. These tapes were pieces we used to dance to at balls and parties. Finding these today really brought back some good old memories," Jude said.

Lucy gulped. "I… didn't know."

"Of course you didn't, but please. Help yourself to these tapes all you want. I'd love it if you were to start to enjoy classical music as I once did."

Of course. All he wanted was for Lucy to like something that he liked too. Lucy sighed, not expecting any more from her father as she turned and retreated back upstairs without another word.

That was probably the weirdest conversation she had ever had with her father. Granted, it was also one of the very few more normal talks they shared, since most of the time it was to scold Lucy, or tell her she had to get ready for an important event he wanted her to make an appearance in.

Lucy flopped onto her mattress, putting the tapes aside and gathering her sheets into her arms and curling herself into a tight ball. Her eyes throbbed from sleep exhaustion, but she didn't let that stop her from thinking back to the conversation she had had with Natsu just a few minutes ago.

Clarinet.

Not the flute. He played the clarinet.

Lucy sighed. She was wrong. Levy was wrong. Natsu wasn't Stranger, since he played the clarinet, while Stranger played the flute. They were two different people, playing two different instruments.

Lucy felt empty.

For some strange reason, finding out that Natsu and Stranger weren't the same person brought an unsettling feeling in her stomach.

She sighed, opting to listen to some of the tapes her father had just given her. She slid off of her bed, picking up the speaker and rummaging through the compartment.

There were a total of four tapes. Each of them was labelled in thick black sharpie. Lucy squinted her eyes to read them.

Ig. Neel Orchestra 1

Ig. Neel Band 1

Ig. Neel Orchestra 2

Ig. Neel Band 2

Before Lucy could find herself questioning who this 'Ig. Neel' person was, her hands started moving on their own to insert the first tape into the slot and pressing the button that read 'play'.

Her ears were immediately drowned in the sound of different string instruments. She could make out violins, cellos, violas, and a few background double basses.

Her breath caught in her throat when she heard what came next.

Every single instrument in the orchestra quieted down and a new instrument entered.

An instrument that she knew very well.

The entire orchestra had dropped out, and it was just a single flute playing.

Lucy's eyes widened as she listened in on the beautifully played notes. Her tongue got caught in her throat as she didn't make a single sound, choosing instead to completely zone in on the music.

It took her to another planet, to put it simply. Lucy never thought she'd be one for music, as all she ever did was take a few piano lessons as a child, but this was something completely different. It felt good. It felt safe, a feeling she hadn't felt in a long time.

Whoever this Ig. Neel guy was, she definitely wanted to hear more from him.

With an excited squeal, Lucy quickly took out the tape and replaced it with the second one.

This one was… different.

Instead of string instruments, there were saxophones, clarinets, oboes, trumpets, and french horns.

Just like the first tape, these instruments dropped out after a few seconds of playing, and once again, the main flute took the spotlight.

Lucy grinned to herself, choosing to drown herself in the beautiful tune the speakers were giving her. While she listened, she grabbed her laptop and opened up a new web browser. Quickly, she typed in Ig. Neel into the search bar.

Her dashboard was immediately overflowed with search results.

Ig. Neel announces retirement!

World famous flutist finally steps down after adoption of healthy baby boy!

Ig. Neel reveals news about plans of adoption!

Flutist Ig. Neel plays final sonata in front of millions of heartbroken fans!

Hearts are torn to shreds as flutist Ig. Neel finally announces his decision to step down from the throne! Will we ever be the same again?

We'll miss you, Ig. Neel! Give your new son our regards!

His music will forever stay in our hearts! Sayonara!

Lucy's wide eyes skimmed the articles with mild interest. Apparently, this man had started playing the flute as a child of eight years, and had played till he was thirty-one when he decided to adopt a foster child.

The articles were dated back to around seventeen years ago, which made him about forty-eight years old currently. His son was now the same age as Lucy.

He hadn't made any more appearances in social media after the time when he announced his retirement, opting for a more private and secluded life. He now lived with his son in Fiore, and had settled peacefully into a brand new lifestyle.

Lucy gulped, running her eyes over a few more articles before snapping her laptop shut.

She was getting carried away. Researching a musician after listening to two of his songs? What was she doing? Why did it feel like she somehow knew this person?

Lucy would never have been so curious if it weren't for the nagging sensation that was burning up in her chest.

She sighed, grabbing her phone and deciding to tell her worries to a certain someone.

Lucy Heartfilia: I've been listening to my father's old classical tapes. Is it wrong to say that I've completely fallen in love with his favorite musician?

The reply she got was almost instant.

Stranger: Classical music? Haha I know a few things. I knowww right it's so addicting!

Lucy grinned as she quickly typed back a message.

Lucy Heartfilia: Well, you are a flutist for a reason, so I don't doubt it. My father has all these tapes from a flutist and I absolutely love them!

Stranger: Maybe we should listen to them together sometime. Ya know, when I'm ready to tell ya who I really am.

Lucy frowned. She thought he would be jumping at the opportunity to know her real identity. But here he was, telling her that he wasn't ready for that yet.

Lucy Heartfilia: Of course. I'm sure you'll love him.

Stranger: Speaking of your old man, everything's cool with him, right?

Lucy Heartfilia: Yeah. He lifted my grounding! Now I can go hang out with my friends tomorrow without my guilty conscience coming up to bite me from behind.

Stranger: You were planning on going without his consent? I've taught ya well!

Lucy smiled as she happily went to type back, 'That's not a good thing, Natsu…'

Lucy froze, her hands slipping as she almost dropped her phone. She hastily picked herself up again, pressing the backspace option a few times to delete the last word.

Lucy Heartfilia: That's not a good thing.

Lucy signed. She rubbed her temples out of exasperation and groaned. What was she thinking? Didn't she already establish that Stranger and Natsu were two different people?

Her thoughts were interrupted by an incoming text.

Stranger: Yeah it is! You know it is!

Lucy couldn't help but smile. Something about Stranger's easy going nature was so captivating to watch.

Lucy Heartfilia: Yeah. Right.

She didn't receive a response immediately, so Lucy decided to turn off her phone and go to her desk, getting out her homework and opting to finish it before deciding her outfit for the following day.

…

Natsu breathed heavily. His eyes fluttered to a close as he flopped onto the bed, resting on his back.

Why did he do that?

Why the heck did he do that?

Sure, he had his thoughts of her being Pretty Stranger, but now it was abundantly clear. Who else would be so interested in knowing if he played in the band or not? Who else had father problems?

Lucy did.

Pretty Stranger did.

It was the perfect set up, too. She would ask him what instrument he played, he would say he played the flute, she would gasp, he would smile, and then they would ride off into the sunset, without actually riding anything because that would give him horrible motion sickness.

But… somehow, the thought of her impending rejection seemed to snap him out of the thought.

He barely even knew the girl as a person. All he did know about her were things she never even meant to tell him. He knew nothing about what kind of conversationalist she was, how she normally wore her hair, where she was from…

Her entire existence was a mystery to him.

There was no way he could reveal himself to her just like that. He wanted to get to know her as a person. Not as Pretty Stranger, but as Lucy Heartfilia.

A thought then came to him.

What if Lucy wasn't Pretty Stranger?

His phone suddenly buzzed, indicating that he had just gotten a text from someone.

Pretty Stranger: I've been listening to my father's old classical tapes. Is it wrong to say that I've completely fallen in love with his favorite musician?

Classical music. Natsu smirked, momentarily forgetting about his internal trouble with Lucy and Pretty Stranger. He had a text message to reply to!

Natsu Dragneel: Classical music? Haha I know a few things. I knowww right it's so addicting!

Of course he did. He was a flutist, after all.

Pretty Stranger: Well, you are a flutist for a reason, so I don't doubt it. My father has all these tapes from a flutist and I absolutely love them!

Natsu Dragneel: Maybe we should listen to them together sometime. Ya know, when I'm ready to tell ya who I really am.

Natsu's eyes widened as he subconsciously pressed send. He didn't mean to send that!

Sure, it was the truth. He really wasn't ready to reveal himself to her, but he wasn't sure how she would respond to something like that.

Something fuzzy crawled up his leg, startling Natsu for a second. He glanced down, his eyes landing on Happy who had just nestled himself on Natsu's stomach.

Pretty Stranger: Of course. I'm sure you'll love him.

Natsu Dragneel: Speaking of your old man, everything's cool with him, right?

He had to make sure. It was the courteous thing to do.

Pretty Stranger: Yeah. He lifted my grounding! Now I can go hang out with my friends tomorrow without my guilty conscience coming up to bite me from behind.

Natsu Dragneel: You were planning on going without his consent? I've taught ya well!

Pretty Stranger: That's not a good thing.

Natsu Dragneel: Yeah it is! You know it is!

Pretty Stranger: Yeah. Right.

"Natsu! Come down here for a second!" his father called down to him. Natsu almost dropped his phone, knowing very well what his dad would say if he found out he had been texting a girl.

"Coming," he yelled back, putting his phone to sleep and sliding it into his back pocket, forgetting about the text Pretty Stranger had just sent to him.

He made his way downstairs, coming face to face with his father, who was currently setting the table.

"What?" Natsu sputtered. "What is all of this?"

His eyes went wide as he saw the variety of dishes set out on the dining table and three bottles of hot sauce sitting by Natsu's plate.

"We haven't had dinner as a family in a while, so I thought this might be good for us," Igneel said nonchalantly, as if it explained everything. Natsu stayed still, watching in awe as his foster father set out a few more bowls of rice and meat.

"Uh… okay?" Natsu said, unsure how to respond. He slid into his seat without a word, watching intently as Igneel sat down across from him.

"So, how's school going for you?" the red haired man said, lifting his fork to his lips and swallowing a bit of food. Natsu followed his lead, digging in quickly and chowing down on the delicious meal. Usually, he grabbed something readymade from the fridge and microwaved it since his father was always working, and ate it upstairs in his room. Today, though, was completely different, and Natsu was unsure why.

"School's fine," Natsu said shortly, paying more attention to the spicy food in front of him. "Dad, what's up with all of this?"

Igneel ignored him. "Haven't heard anything about Gray in a while," he said pointedly.

Natsu snorted. "That bastard's-"

"Language."

"Uh… right. Gray's fine. I'm… friends with him."

"That's good," Igneel nodded, not seeming to notice Natsu gagging from his words. Natsu looked back up at him, still extremely confused.

"Why'd ya' make dinner today? Didn't you have work or something?" he asked.

Igneel shrugged. "I did, but I was able to finish the last few sheets early so I thought it would be nice to have some father-son time at dinner tonight."

Natsu tensed slightly, but not enough that it was noticeable. "You did, huh."

Igneel worked as a composer and translator. He used to be a very successful flutist, but Natsu wasn't sure about the details of his old profession. Igneel never said very much about it, except the fact that he retired when he adopted Natsu. Now, instead of playing the music, he transferred flute sheet music to different instruments, or vica versa. He also had composed a few short pieces that Natsu had played a few times on his own flute, but nothing major.

Igneel usually kept the details of his job private, so Natsu didn't bother to ask.

"So… why'd you come home by yourself today?" Igneel asked. Natsu's eyes shot up to meet his and he gaped at him. "You know, Gray is usually with you, right?"

Natsu gulped. "Yeah… but we went a different route today."

"Is that so," Igneel said.

"Yeah," Natsu replied.

"You've been acting different lately, Natsu," Igneel said, glancing down at his fork. "Have you met someone new?"

"Uh…" Natsu said, officially lost for words.

"Any new… female company?"

Natsu sputtered, almost choking on the piece of raw chicken he was trying to swallow in that moment.

After cleaning himself up, he said, "What are ya' talking about?"

"I don't know, it's just a hunch, I guess," Igneel said, shrugging. "Thought maybe you finally got yourself a girlfriend or something-"

"Oi!" Natsu snapped.

Igneel laughed, "Nevermind, nevermind."

"And for your information, I don't have a girlfriend," Natsu said, crossing his arms. "And I won't be getting one anytime soon!"

"Gay, then?"

"No!" Natsu screeched. "Dad! Stop!"

Igneel was now full-out laughing. He clutched his sides, trying to stop himself from blowing from his sounds of mirth.

Natsu looked at him, unable to stop himself from letting out a small smile.

Igneel and Natsu's relationship wasn't the best, but it was definitely something Natsu cherished. He knew his foster father was always there for him, and he knew he would never hesitate to be there for him, either.

It was just all the time in between.

They almost never saw each other, as Natsu preferred to keep himself out of the house most of the time. Igneel had always been a little on edge around him, but he managed to scrape through for his son every time.

Natsu, of course, knew that there must have been something else behind his strange behavior.

Suddenly, he felt a sudden discomfort in his throat and chest. Natsu's hands flew up to clutch his shirt as his gaze began to fog slightly.

"Natsu?!" Igneel yelled, scrambling out of his chair and bending down to help support him by placing a hand on his back. "Are you alright?!"

Natsu coughed. This turned to another set of coughs. Then another and then another.

"Dammit…" he said, breathing heavily as his voice began to crack. His breathing quickened and Igneel ran to the kitchen to get a pill.

"Here," he said, coming back with a glass of water in his right hand and the medication in his left. Natsu quickly accepted it, gulping it down quickly as his breathing began to return back to its normal pace. His vision also cleared up and he looked up at his father with a grateful look.

"Thanks," he said, lifting his head up to look at him. Natsu smiled. "Guess I forgot to take it this morning."

"It gets worse this time of year, you can't help it," Igneel sighed, sitting back down too. "Are you sure you're okay, Natsu?"

Natsu nodded. "I'm fine, Dad," he said, glancing down at the multiple plates of food. Suddenly, they didn't seem so appetizing anymore. "I… I think I'm gonna go to bed now, if that's okay."

Igneel sighed, realizing that all his efforts for dinner had now gone to waste.

"Alright," he said. "Sleep well, Natsu. Don't let this bother you, okay? It was an honest mistake. You just forgot to take it this morning, right?"

"Yeah," Natsu nodded. "Sorry."

"It's okay," Igneel said. "Glad we got it to you before something worse happened."

Natsu gulped, quickly turning and disappearing out of the dining room without another word. Igneel stared after him, his eyes drooping as he looked down at his lap with a sheepish look.

Before going to bed, Natsu texted Pretty Stranger one last time.

Natsu Dragneel: Good night, Pretty Stranger. Hope your night went better than mine.

Oooh what's going on with Natsu, huh?

Here ya have an insight on how both Lucy and Natsu are doing with their personal family lives.

Next chapter, Lucy and her new friends go shopping!