The day of the festival, I told Natsu I was staying home while I carefully unwrapped some of his bandages. Happy was snoring on the hammock, taking a nap even though we had all just woken up.

"Don't you wanna be in the parade though?" he asked me.

I shook my head, "My magic isn't exactly flashy. I mean, Juvia has her water, Gray has his ice, you have your flames and Erza has her swords. What am I going to do? Throw rocks at people?"

"Make castles, fireworks, summon your spirits, there's plenty you can do!" he insisted. "This isn't about being flashy, it's about pride for the guild!"

I shrugged, "I guess."

"We can share a float if you want!"

My eyebrows flicked up. "And what? Make flaming rocks?"

"Meteors!"

I rolled my eyes. "I think that'd cause more injuries. I have enough work to do, trying to rebuild the city."

He grew silent as my hands worked on redressing his bandages, skirting around bruises and cuts. I smeared salve on him, mumbling about the different potions Polyushka-san had given me to use on the batter boy. It was silent work that required a bit of concentration on my part. Making sure that I didn't pull on the gauze too tight or leave it too lose. Taking care to put Natsu through as little discomfort as possible.

It occurred to me that he was shirtless and I had my hands over him. But I was more concerned with getting him better than eyeing him. Not to mention the fact that he lost his waist coat so much during fights, that I was starting to grow immune.

He grabbed my hand, startling me. "Luce—"

I waited, my heart screeching to a halt in the back of my throat.

His face turned red. He exhaled and let go of my hand. "Let's go to the festival."

I searched his face, trying to figure out what he had been about to tell me. When I found nothing, I gave him a perturbed "Okay..."

The next day Natsu avoided me. Which hurt.

Instead of lingering around the house, I headed off to the guild to see Master Makarov. I had a few questions to ask him about a job he had given me. It was an odd one, that would take me far off. But according to him, I had the proper skill set for it.

And since I was already an S-class mage, I would be fine. Something to do with an island that he was setting up for the S-class exams. I just wanted to ask how long he'd expect me to be gone, what details he wanted on the reports.

My meeting with him was quick and to the point. I'd be gone anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months. I'd be given a lacrima to communicate with Mirajane and the Master. A small stipend for food. I could hire workers once I got there and the guild would reimburse me. And I'd be leaving immediately after the Fantasia festival.

It was bittersweet. The Master trusted me so much that he'd let me take care of the preparations for the huge event, but at the same time sad because I'd be leaving behind my friends for awhile.

I shook my head and grinned. Nah, it wasn't as if I'd really be leaving them for so long. It wasn't like I was going to be gone for years or anything. Just a few months. And Fairy Tail sure as hell wasn't going anywhere.

The day after Fantasia was disconcerting. I had packed my bag and walked with Natsu and Happy to the guild. They had chosen a new job and it just so happened that I was set to walk in the same direction. But I felt strange. At first I chalked it up to nerves from going on an S-class job by myself. Anxiety about leaving behind my back up. Confessing to my little group that I was going to be gone for awhile.

But then, I realized what the real problem was.

I was perched on a bar stool, chatting with Mirajane about the latest editorial done on her. As I sipped my tonic, a hand fell on my shoulder and twisted me around in my seat. I tensed, ready to unleash hell on whoever had thought to mess with me when I was already wound so tight. Until I realized who I was staring at.

"Father?" I asked, incredulous. He was in rags, dirty, he looked like he had walked through a pig sty to get to the guild. "What are you doing here? I mean—those clothes—What's going on?"

"Heartfilia Rail has been bought out...I've lost my company... my home... my money... everything," he said sadly.

My eyebrows flew up. "No—how could that have happened?" I gaped.

"I had used everything I owned as collateral, you see... Running a business... really can turn a man into an utter fool," he grumbled.

It might have said something about me that instead of worrying for him, my mind jumped to my mother. "B—But the house?! That's where Mama's grave...!"

"I had it moved here," he said smoothly. "Though it should be sad ...I actually feel like laughing. All of that fortune, gone in an instant. Everything I achieved in those long years, reduced to nothing in a single night."

I looked at him wearily. His voice was taking on a weird cadence, almost hysterical. "The money that I worked so hard to earn, I sacrificed my family in the process! It's just... funny! It makes me laugh! Ahahahah!"

"Okay," I said slowly, perturbed. "Why the hell are you here then?"

"To see... my daughter's face."

My face smoothed into a neutral expression that belied the sudden rush of anger. "Uh huh, so now that you've lost all that money you worried so much about, you decide to see me? The daughter you practically chased the hell out of that mansion of yours? And didn't I tell you to keep away from Fairy Tail? This is my guild. Last I checked, you hated magic!"

"I don't have that kind of power any more. I just... came to see my daughter's face. That's all."

I looked at him blackly, hyperaware of how the entire guild had silenced. The way Erza was holding Gray and Natsu back. How Happy was slowly trying to sneak his way to me on the counter, dodging a few glasses.

"Please, don't look like that... I've been in the wrong all this time, I admit that. I don't plan on sticking around here, either. I'm going to start working at a merchants' guild in Acalypha. Start over from scratch."

"Acalypha?"

"It's west of here; within walking distance."

"I see..."

"Well, then... Lucy," he said. "The truth is, I need a little money to get me going."

I freaking knew it. There was always catch.

"Just a hundred thousand Jewels or so will do. Could you just lend me that much?"

"What the hell makes you think I even carry that much on me?" I snapped. "No, do you even remember when I first started running away? I was ten. Mama had just died. Stelliana had disappeared on me. And I took off without a single jewel in my pocket. I did just fine. I'm sure you can, too."

"What do you mean?! It's just a hundred thousand! You're my own daughter! How can you not spare me at least that much, after all that you've done?"

I ignored the hidden accusation. The one I had always known was there. "I didn't kill Mama. I wasn't the one that was always harping at her about my magic tutors."

"I need money! I'm crawling to you in shame here! Look at me! I just need you to give me the money!"
My lip curled up. "No, okay. The answer is no. You put my guild through too much. You put me through too much. You were all set for selling me away to be some cute little wifey for some old guy. The answer is, and will always be, no!"

"Why, of all the dirty little... Your own father..." he grumbled.

"Just—leave. Go away and never step foot in this guild ever again, Mr. Heartfilia," I said blandly.

He sneered at me, turned on his heel and left.

When the guild doors slammed shut behind him, I slumped onto the counter, cradling my head in my arms.

A paw landed on one of my hands. I smiled faintly at Happy and dragged my fingers over his fur. I didn't know what to make of what I was feeling. I was equal parts angry as I was sad. My father was the person who instigated most of my life. Sometimes, I would sit down and wonder if mama would have lived longer if it weren't for his greed, for his ambition, if it weren't for his overwhelming desire to construct the perfect family—

There were days where I curled up and watched the stars. Imagines a life with just my mama and Stelliana. A life where Stelliana took the part of my father, rough housing and lifting me way above her head, and stubbornly refusing to ask for directions. And mama indulged her gracefully, teaching me gentle lessons and occasionally chastising Stelliana for being crass.

Sometimes I wonder if father would've fit in the picture too, had he not descended down the path of greed.

And yet still, I felt guilty. I never really wanted for anything. I had always been given what I wanted. Except for those emotional bonds I so wanted with my father. Those stolen memories of a happy family.

"Luce?" Natsu called, slinging his arm over shoulders, rubbing my arm. "You okay?"

I shook my head of the dreary thoughts. "Yeah of course. Something like that can't bring me down.

When we finally got to leave the guild, my mind was consumed with questions about how to tell Gray, Erza, Natsu and Happy that I wasn't going to be sticking around with them on this mission. That I had my own mission that would last a very long time.

"So... what kind of mission's it gonna be?"

"No idea," Natsu said.

Gray pulled out the mission flyer. "This one. Capturing the escaped convict Velveno."

Happy gasped. "Velveno... as in Guild Hunter Velveno?! He's been found?!"

"Oohhhhh! I've heard that guy uses some incredible magic! This should be good!" Natsu crowed.

"The reward comes to four hundred thousand for each of us... that should be nice, right Lucy?" Erza said.

I frowned. "Um, right. About that. There's something I need to tell you guys about—"

"Hey! Did you hear the news about Acalypha?"

"You mean about that merchants' guild getting taken over by some guerilla group?"

"Yeah... scary stuff..."

"No... about the group that took 'em over. I heard it was the Dark Guild, Naked Mummy..."

"Seriously?! But then... the army would be no match for them!"

I stopped. Wasn't that the place my father was at?

"What's up, Lucy?! Hurry up, we've gotta wipe out this Velveno punk!"

"That's 'capture,' not 'wipe out'..." Erza chided.
"Either way, it's gonna be messy. I'll knock his brains out!" Gray said.

"Aye, sir!" Happy said. "Um. Gray, your clothes...!"

This was the man that had caused most of my problems. Had attacked my guild. What did I really care about him?

"Aw shit," I groaned and turned to Erza. "Where exactly is Acalypha?"

Erza's eyes flashed with something like sympathy and duty. She pointed off in a direction. "Thanks!" I took off running. The faster I got there, the quicker I dealt with the stupid Dark Guild, and the sooner I'd be done dealing with my father so much.

"Lucy?" Natsu called, concern coloring his face.

"Hey... what about the mission...?!" Happy crowed.

"Ahh—I have to do this, sorry!"

The merchant guild was full of spectators and the military, telling people to stay calm and relaying that people were being sent in to deal with the situation.

I wanted to roll my eyes a bit. Instead, I summoned Virgo. And quickly asked her to make a tunnel from where I stood to the inside of the guild, "Love and Lucky."

"Thank you, Virgo," I told her.

"You wish to punish me?" she deadpanned.

I quirked an eyebrow. "Um, no. Now's not the time. You do get that I was thanking you, right?"

She ignored my question. "There are a number of mages within. Are you sure that you wish to enter alone?"

I nodded. "I have to. They can't be that bad right?"

It wasn't. I hardly had to use any magic besides the Celestial Gates to dispose of the Dark Guild. No flash, nothing worth mentioning besides the particularly vicious kick I aimed at what I guessed was the leader who had been harassing a little kid. I nodded when the hostages started thanking me, scanning them over to see if my father was among them. And tried to hide my worry when he wasn't.

I stepped out of the guild and quietly told the military that Fairy Tail had handled it. The dark guild members were all detained inside and awaiting transport. The military men gave me a strained, reluctant thanks. Obviously, with all the trouble Fairy Tail gave them, they weren't very fond of us.

"Lucy?"

My eyes widened. "Father? Don't tell me I beat you here? I—I heard that there was a dark guild attacking—and I—I didn't think—"

He stared at me, shocked. "I told you. I needed money. I couldn't get here any faster. I had to come on foot."

What? Did he want a hundred grand for transport costs? Just how out of touch was he with the true cost of things?

"You came because you were worried about me?"

I flushed, embarassed. "Oh, forget it! Goodbye!"

"I see... Thank you..." he said.

I tugged on my hair. "Don't get the wrong idea, okay? It's not like... I've forgiven you or anything."

"No... Of course not... that's okay. You know... it was a long walk, to get here from Magnolia. It gave me a lot of time to think about things. I'm sorry about what I told you... there was something wrong with me... I'm honestly ashamed of myself... I'm going to try to change. Even without money, I've managed to make it this far. I feel almost as though... I can do anything." He paused and stared wistfully at the sign of the guild that was behind us. "You know, this Guild...it's where I first met your mother."

Really? I turned around to look at the guild. Trying to imagine my parents, young, standing around and laughing, living, my age and ready to take on the world.

"Your mother was pregnant with you right about the time I was thinking about going independent... And we made the decision to leave the Guild together. It was around then that the Guild sign was damaged...and instead of reading 'LUCKY' it ended up saying 'LUCY'. For some reason, it made an impression on us... and we decided that if we had a daughter, that's what we would name her..."

I laughed despite myself. "You both really would name a kid after some weird situation."

"I guess you're right."

"You know, I—"

"Lucy! Are you all right?!" Natsu shouted, running up the street with the rest of the gang in tow.

"What's going on?!" Gray yelled, half naked.

"Lucy!" Happy crowed.

I grinned at them.

"Don't tell me... you sorted out the whole situation here on your own?" her eyebrows flicked up and she nodded in approval. "Nice job."

"Thank you," I said to her, then turned back to my father. "Well, um, good luck. And goodbye."

When we were a little ways away, Natsu asked me. "What was all that, all of a sudden?!"

"Nothing," I said.

"Oh, come on... 'nothing,' my ass!"

"We had to cancel the job..." Happy mumbled.

"You guys shouldn't of done that," I said. Then I took a deep breath. "Um, listen. I wasn't going on that job with you guys anyways. The Master assigned me something big. My own job. And it might take a while for me to complete."

"That's very good, Lucy, you are maturing into a wonderful mage," Erza praised. "How long will your mission take?"

I rubbed the back of my neck. "Well, it's a pretty big job. Master said anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months." I refused to see Natsu's reaction.

Gray clapped a hand on my shoulder. "We'll miss you, but good luck, okay?"

I nodded.

Erza said something similar. Then Happy flew into my arms and made me promise to bring him lots of fish for him to eat as a souvenir. I grimaced at the idea of sticking stinky fish in my back.

Then finally, Natsu. Who stared at me with a weird look in his eye before giving me his customary toothy grin and pulled me into a giant bear hug that lifted me straight off of the ground and squeezed the breath out of me. When he set me back down, I felt lips brush ever so quickly across my forehead that I could've imagined it.

"Good luck, Lucy," he said.

"Thanks," I whispered.

Then set off on my journey to Tenrou Island, to prepare and repair the courses for the S-Class exams.

A/N: Yep. I'm updating this semi-regularly now. Oracion Seis Arc is next. Then Edolas. Then S-Class Exams. This is the part of the story that is going to start deviating from canon. Ask me questions in the reviews, leave comments, all that stuff, and I will answer them in the author's note for the next chapter. :)