Gajeel drove the trio home late Sunday night, so that allowed Levy to nap during the long travel back into town. Lucy wanted to sleep―she really did―but the thought of talking to Natsu again and having his lips pressed against hers kept her staring out the window at the stars.

The blonde was now laying in her bed at Levy's residence, scrolling through her email while the early sun shone through the window. She then quickly sat up and placed the laptop on her lap, pulling her eyebrows together.

1 new email.

To: Lucy Heartfilia

From: Kathy Bercher

Subject: Important News

"Important news..?" Lucy said aloud, panic suddenly rising into her throat. This email was a message from one of his maids. She never received mail from his maids. Just what the hell happened?

Hello Miss. Lucy. It's been a long time, no? We sure do miss having your calming presence in the Heartfilia Manner, but we are managing.
I'm extremely sorry to have to send this message via email, but I didn't know how to contact you any other way. Your father has come down with a severe illness, and is currently bedridden.
Please, Miss. Lucy, forget about the argument and come home. I hope to see you soon.

Sent: Friday, 7:02 AM

Lucy reread the message, over and over, until the pounding in her chest was the only thing she could pay attention to. The words severe illness and bedridden reverberated off of the blonde's mind, tormenting her by allowing her to think further into the matter.

"That was three days ago!" she cried, heart pounding against her chest. Lucy had to get ready for work in a little while, because now that it was summer, she'd start in the morning instead of late afternoon.

"Levy!" Lucy called from the bathroom, almost finished getting dressed. She stood there in underwear and her navy blue work t-shirt, brushing her wet hair. "Yeah, Lu-chan?" the bluenette asked, standing in the doorway, sipping a cup of coffee.

The blonde glanced over in her direction for a moment, before placing the brush down on the sink counter and slipping a leg into her khakis. "My dad is ill, so I'm going over to his house after work," she said, buttoning the pants. Levy furrowed her brows, lips parting. "How bad is it?" she questioned, using her free hand to run fingers through her tangled blue locks. She's never heard of Jude becoming sick, well, she figured Lucy would have told her if he had in the past anyways. Lucy sighed, almost as if she was about to begin crying. "He can't get out of bed, Levy-chan."

As the busty teenager was leaving for work, she stopped in the doorway. "Could you go in the chat room for me and tell the others that I won't be on? I promised Erza and Gray before they left that I would be on tonight." Levy nodded her head, and Lucy looked at her with an unfeigned smile. Considering the blue-haired female already knew Lucy's password and username, completing the desired task wouldn't be a problem. "Thank you, Levy-chan," she said before walking out and shutting the door behind her.

Juvia and Lyon's Pools and More

"So how were exams last week, Lucy?" Juvia asked, leaning on her elbows on the side of a hot tub. The blonde was sweeping, mind racing with thoughts about her father. "Good," she answered simply, keeping her eyes fixated on the floor. The blue-haired woman accepted the hint with a nod, and began walking back to the cash register. Lucy stopped sweeping for a moment, and looked up at the clock. It was five o'clock. Only one more hour left. Only one more hour until she could see her father.

Levy

STARGURL17: Uh, hello?
FireBreather: Hey Lucy
IceMakerCool: Yo
SwordFightRforLIFE: Hello
STARGURL17: Ah no, sorry guys, it's Levy
SwordFightRforLIFE: Oh, how are you?
FireBreather: Where's Lucy?
STARGURL17: I'm good, thank you, and she's at work right now.
STARGURL17: But she wanted me to tell you all that she wouldn't be getting on tonight
IceMakerCool: Did something happen?
STARGURL17: Well kind of.
FireBreather: Is she okay?
STARGURL17: Yes, Lucy is fine
STARGURL17: It's her father, though
STARGURL17: She didn't tell me much because she doesn't have a lot of information herself, but he's become ill
STARGURL17: And she's going to see him after work, so I'm not even sure what time she'll be getting home.
SwordFightRforLIFE: Is she alright with that?
SwordFightRforLIFE: Seeing him, I mean..
SwordFightRforLIFE: The last time they saw each other they argued and all.
STARGURL17: Yeah, I think she is, but I'm not completely sure.
STARGURL17: Like I said, she didn't tell me much..
FireBreather: Well, Levy
FireBreather: When she gets home, could you tell her to get on?
STARGURL17: I'll be sure to tell her!
FireBreather: Okay, thank you
STARGURL17: Sure, no problem.
STARGURL17: Well, I have to go guys
STARGURL17: I have to make dinner
STARGURL17: But Erza, Gray, did you guys make it home all right?
IceMakerCool: If you count Erza almost hitting a deer and killing both of us, then yes, we made it home all right.
SwordFightRforLIFE: Really, Gray
SwordFightRforLIFE: That deer came out of no where and you know it
FireBreather: Glad I didn't carpool with you two..
SwordFightRforLIFE: Oh shut up, Natsu
SwordFightRforLIFE: It wasn't that bad.
IceMakerCool: (it was pretty bad)
STARGURL17: Lol okay, well goodbye guys. Have a nice night all of you!
IceMakerCool: Thanks Levy, you too
FireBreather: See ya
SwordFightRforLIFE: Goodbye, have a good night!
STARGURL17 HAS LEFT THE CHATROOM.

Levy shut the laptop and sighed. "I hope Lu-chan's father is alright."

Lucy

"Hi dad," Lucy softly called, walking towards his bed where he lay, eyes closed. His skin was abnormally pale, and his eyes looked a bit sunken in. Jude opened his dark eyes slowly, eventually meeting her brown orbs. It broke her heart. How has he become like this in such a short period of time?

"Ah.. Lucy.. I didn't think you would come," he said, taking slow, shallow breaths. She sat at the edge of his bed, examining his movements with worried eyes. "Of course I'd come," she said, pursing her pink lips. After a few moments, she asked, "How are you feeling?" His eyes were closed again.

It's just like one of my nightmares.

Her heart began to race.

Jude let out a small, forced chuckle, which made him cough a few times afterwards. "Tired, my daughter," he said, licking his cracked lips. Why..? she thought, Why you?

Next, Kathy walked in, and gasped once she witnessed the blonde on the bed. "Oh! Miss. Lucy!" she exclaimed, rushing over to the girl, to then wrap her arms around her shoulders. Lucy returned the hug, barely though. She was too focused on her father.

Why?

How?

"Could I speak with you for a moment, outside, Miss. Lucy?" the maid requested, and with one last look at her father, the teenager nodded her head and followed the woman out of the room.

"How is he?" Lucy asked once the two were in the hallway and Jude's door was shut. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder, waiting for the maid to answer. The older woman appeared to be incredibly distressed.

"Your father isn't... getting any better, I'm afraid. In fact, his condition has actually worsened." Lucy felt a lump in her throat. "There has been multiple doctors here, but none can seem to figure what's the problem. It's all extremely strange.." she continued, "He seems to be losing a lot of weight, also." Lucy wanted to throw up. "Mr. Heartfilia is unable to keep most of his food down, but we're trying our best to keep him hydrated." Lucy dreaded her next question. "Is he going to be okay?" Her voice was barely a whisper, but the maid caught it.

"I'm..." There was a pause. "We're expecting the worst, deary."

Lucy felt numb. This can't be happening, she thought, staring at the carpet. Impossible. She couldn't lose another parent. No. He was all she had left. He couldn't leave. He was going to get better. He was going to become healthy. He was.

Without saying another word to her father's maid, she turned on her heel and walked back into Jude's room. He looked painfully sickly.

"Father?" she called, sitting on his bed once again. Jude didn't open his eyes this time, but he hummed a small hm. She fidgeted with her fingers and wrists. "You're going to get better," she stated, "okay?" The blonde-haired man cracked open an eye slightly, and watched as she swallowed thickly.

"I'm sorry, Lucy," he apologized quietly, after a few minutes, allowing his jaw to hang down slightly and eye to close once more. The blonde chuckled sadly. "I know, dad, you don't have to say it. I know."

"No," he said, "I must say it." His throat ached. "I've treated you so poorly.. all this time.." Lucy's lip quivered as her eyesight began to blur. It's okay, dad, she thought, you don't have to speak anymore. I understand.

"I know I can never make it up to you.." His voice was hoarse. "but I want you to know that I regret not treating you like the princess you are.."

A few tears fell into Lucy's lap, and she tried to refrain her shoulders from shaking.

"Stop talking like you're going to die!" she shouted, squeezing her eyes shut and clenching her fists. "I'll take care of you," she swore, voice shaking. "I'll nurse you back to one hundred percent health," she promised, but that only made Jude more solemn.

"I hope you can grow to forgive me, Lucy."

More tears fell from the female's eyes, and she didn't reply.

Stop talking like you're going to die. You're not going to die. You promised Mom you'd always be here with me. Don't break your promise.