Author's note: Okay, so here's the new one! Stayed up late workin on it. Enjoy!

Also I do not own Fairy Tail.

Chapter Twenty Six - Heads are down, then they're up

"Well folks that'll just about do it here in Magnolia! The Fiore/Bosco classic ends here tonight with the Fairies coming out on top of the away team Ravens. I just hope this 20 point slaughter doesn't insight a riot between the two coaches; after all they do share common blood."

Chapati Lola looked to his assistant commentator as Yajima grinned and replied. "Yes, you are right on that one. This father/son match up really spices up the series. I'm just surprised the Fairies came out on top this year!"

Every year each FBA team holds one game aside for a foreign exhibition match. Most teams try and switch up their opponents, but the Fairies of Magnolia reserve their match up every time for the Ravens of Bosco, whose coach Ivan Dreyar just happens to be the son of Fairies' coach Makarov. Now, this year's game has come to an end, with the home town team emerging victorious. Right after the game, coaches Makarov and Ivan walk to greet each other at the center court.

"Well I'm glad you actually managed to win a game with your team of scrubs, Makarov." Ivan said with a nasally voice as he took his father's hand shake.

"Ivan." Makarov never gave him a smile. After they released hands, Makarov tried turning around, but the son wasn't finished.

"Hmm, that's an interesting sight to behold…am I blind or do I see the famous Warrod Sequen up visiting Jude Heartfilia."

Makarov turned around. "Why does that concern you?"

Ivan grinned and shrugged his shoulders. "It's just an interesting thought. Rumor has it Warrod has been saving money to buy a team, and it would make sense to buy the very franchise he helped create…I mean I know for a fact grandpa Yuri would love to see him own the Fairies."

Makrov sighed after Ivan mentioned his now departed father, and former FBA legend Yuri Dreyar. "Well…perhaps you should leave the concerns to me and my team. Goodnight, Ivan." Makarov then used this moment to leave for the locker room. Ivan meanwhile howled with laughter and looked around to the court. He then landed his eyes on his very own son Laxus, but before he could react, the Magnolia Center rolled his eyes and followed suit with his grandfather and left for the lockers.

Now, we join that very same box seat referenced by Ivan to find the elder Warrod Sequen leaving the care of Jude Heartfilia. "Well now. That was a basketball game! I'd sure love to see this team make it into the big dance. They'd be sure to lose if they could just seal a spot."

Jude nodded, but then collected his thoughts. However before he could respond correctly Warrod let out a howl and patted Jude on the shoulder.

"BAHAHA! Oh I'm only kidding! I really think they'd win it all."

Jude brushed his shoulder after Warrod removed his hand. "Yes, I wholeheartedly agree. They possess the third seed in the east right now, so one could even assume we'll earn home field advantage for the first round."

Warrod raised his cane. "Ah, then it will be on to Crocus! Oh I love the playoffs…oh well, we have several months before then." He then turned and waved goodbye. "I'll send my regards for the next game. Until then."

Jude nodded and re-took his seat as his blonde daughter laughed.

"Gee, you and Mr. Sequen are quite the little BFFs now." She giggled with humor.

Jude didn't even laugh. "Yes, well it is easy for one businessman to befriend another."

Lucy laughed again. "Unless it's that creepy Mard Geer guy…to be honest if I found out he was your friend I'd probably run away from home."

Jude actually did crack a tiny smile at that joke. "Well, you can rest easy knowing that would never happen." Jude then spent the rest of the moment reading through his phone. As a tiny awkward silence passed through the booth, Lucy shifted nervously in her seat to grab her bag and coat quickly in time to leave for her after-game meal with the Fairies.

"Soooo…this was a fun chat. Glad the guys could win! Anyway I'll see you back at home!" Lucy darted up quickly to try and leave, but her father raised his hand.

"Lucy, why don't you sit back down for a moment. I have something I would like to discuss with you."

That wasn't meant to be a question as Lucy slowly back peddled and returned to her seat, with her head hanging low and her arms folded. Jude snapped back to Caprico in the glass booth behind them and then pulled out a letter from his suit coat. "Would you take this down to the home locker room? I believe you know where it needs to be delivered."

Caprico made a quick nod and left without a single word. As he made his leave, Jude put away his phone and kept his eyes down on the court.

"So Lucy, that was quite the little party you hosted Saturday night."

"Agghh…" Lucy's response did not come from the English dictionary, and it more accurately fit the description of a moan or a cry.

Finally, she shut her mouth as Jude continued. "It's quite amusing to hear Natsu calling my butler on my phone in the middle of the night…but what makes me laugh even more is the fact that he thought Caprico wouldn't tell me…"

Lucy lowered her head even more. "So I take it you were the one who called the buses…?"

Jude stood up finally and turned to leave. "Grab your things. I already had Virgo come in by taxi to pick up your car. We can discuss the party in greater detail once we arrive home." He expected her to follow, but stopped to deliver one final word.

"Oh, and don't worry. I already made the effort to contact Natsu. You won't be dining with him this evening…I'll be in my office. "

As he left, Lucy kept her eyes down on the court. Her face was blood red with rage and she was even shaking in her seat.

"Well…the ass needs to realize I'm 18, and I don't need to let him decide my night for me…" She then remembered his earlier note about the party.

"But knowing him, he's already got something terrible planned. It'll only be worse if I try to go out…"

Then, she kicked the seat in front of her, alerting several fans below as she quickly stood up and charged through the exit door.

Now, we find ourselves down in the same Fairies locker room as Natsu quickly ran in from the court to gather his things.

"Oh man! The guys are gonna want to head right over! I need to shower and change quick before I can get…" He held that thought as he noticed a letter taped to his locker.

"…Lucy?" he finished it as he grabbed the letter. As he opened the note, Natsu widened his eyes in reading its message:

Natsu, I thank you for alerting me on my daughter's party the other night, and I also thank you for your added concern on her well-being. However I please ask that in the future you leave her life's matters in my own hands.

Also, I regret to inform you that Lucy will not be going out this evening, as she has exams in two of her classes for tomorrow.

As always keep up the good work for the franchise.

Regards,

Jude Heartfilia

Natsu took a while to process the entire note before crumbling it up in his hands and tossing it in a nearby trash can.

"What kind of dad lies about his daughter's classes just to keep her from hanging out with friends?" Natsu had asked Lucy earlier that day if she had to skip any school work to join him and the others, but in response she only laughed and said all of her exams were last week.

That really infuriated Natsu, but he wasn't comfortable with trying to confront Jude about it. Even more accurately he wasn't even sure if Jude was still in the building.

In any case he slammed his locker door shut and walked to the showers.

Eventually, most of the Fairies found themselves gathered together in the usual Fairy Tail Tavern to celebrate the win. Nearly every Fairy in attendance looked happy to be there, with the exception of a few faces.

No one knew why, but Natsu, Gray both sat at the end of a table alone with long faces as the others drank and questioned their friends' woes. Cana shook her head and looked over to Evergreen and Elfman. "Man, we need to buy those two some extra drinks. They're acting like we just lost a championship game or something."

Evergreen agreed while readjusting her glasses for a better view. "No kidding. I wonder why they look so dead?"

Elfman shrugged and took a gulp from his drink. "Beats me, but hey! We can't let them take our spirits down!"

Cana smiled and raised her glass. "Amen to that, brother!"

Gray just looked at the table with a face equal in color with his name. Natsu also looked rather blue but spoke up to comment on Gray's attitude.

"What's the matter loser? You're girl not show up…?" Nastu didn't sound very enthusiastic in delivering his insult.

Gray never moved his head. "Shut up Natsu…you look the same as I do."

Natsu's head hit the table. "Agh screw you…"

As half of the Fairies celebrated the others tried to get a feel for the room's emotion. Mirajane for example would have gotten up to ask Gray and Natsu about their troubles, but instead she chose to focus on her equally stressed boyfriend, Laxus.

"Heyy, what's up?" She asked with nurturing concern. "You're really bringing down the loss!"

Laxus never gave her eye contact. "Eh nothing...just my dead beat dad."

Mira sighed and grabbed his arm. "Oh yea. I thought I saw him trying to shake your hand. Your grandpa didn't look very happy to see him either."

"Mhmm…" Laxus made no comment. In another world he would have actually been happy to see Ivan, but sadly this wasn't one of those worlds.

Ivan used to play in the FBA, and after retiring he joined his father Makarov on the coaching staff back in Magnolia. They had a decent first year, but it was around their first few games as a father-son duo that the Fairies started to fail at winning. Makarov tried to act patient, but year after year the losses tallied up. Finally Ivan had it and tried to act with some "out of game" advantages. He was caught trying to bribe refs on several occasions, and at one moment he was even accused of tampering with away team locker rooms.

In the end the FBA officials finally caught up to his lousy behavior and fired him, but the single thing that angered him the most was the fact that Makarov testified against him in court. Not being able to find a job in Fiore, the Bosco Basketball League was more than happy to bring in a famous FBA player as a new free agent coach, and sooner or later a team found him.

Then, Laxus was drafted to his home town Fairies, and today we sit at the Fairy Tail tavern as the poor son drinks away his shame for his father.

Mira sighed and grabbed his arm. "Please, could you at least cheer up for me? After all Natsu and Gray are bad enough."

Laxus sat up. "Yea, you're right. What's with those two?" He asked with curiosity while looking down at the two sad rookies.

Mira shook her head. "I'm not sure. The only thing I remember is that Natsu originally invited Lucy out to eat with us, but now she's not here."

Laxus rolled his eyes. "Agh, you gotta be kidding me. That idiot of all people has girl problems?!"

Mira felt a tear roll down her eyes. "Oh I know it's so heartbreaking! I imagine Gray is having a similar issue as well!" She balled right into Laxus's shirt as he tried reaching for a napkin.

"Oy! Just relax will ya?" He patted her on the back and then looked back to Natsu and Gray.

"So…those two idiots need help with some women, huh? Interesting…"

Now, we find ourselves at another table of four with one more awkward face as Levy McGarden keeps her head hung low. Gajeel shook his head and waved for a waiter to come give him more service. "HEY CAN WE GET THIS CRY BABY A TISSUE OR SOMETHING!?"

Levy shouted out while grabbing his arm. "GAJEEL I'M NOT EVEN CRYING!?"

The black haired Power Forward rolled his eyes. "Alright Short Stuff, then why the long face?!"

Levy sighed and grabbed her drink. "I dunno…I guess it's because you guys played so well, but it didn't even count in the end."

Erza and Jellal sat across from their friends as Erza tried to speak up. "Yes, I agree it is rather hard to swallow. We haven't been performing very well in our actual division games, and we're only holding the third seed in the conference."

Jellal nodded. "Yes, just a few weeks ago we were number 2. We seem to keep slipping down the ranks as weeks go by."

Gajeel slammed his hand down firmly on the table. "Would you morons just shut up!? God you act like we're gonna lose the team if we get another loss! Look, we got a game in Quattro next. Those clowns have a losing record, so it should be pretty easy to get back our winning record."

Levy smiled for the sake of Gajeel. "Yea, I hope you're right…Oh I'd love to shut everyone up with a big push in the playoffs. I can see the headlines now…'Rookie GM and Coaching staff takes the title together!'"

Erza smiled. "It does have a certain ring to it, but I'm afraid Makarov would deserve most of the credit. After all he is the head coach."

Levy laughed and took a sip of her glass. Erza did too but then heard a buzz on the table. She went to reach for what she thought was her phone but actually turned out to be Jellal's hand...hovering over his own phone.

"Oh I'm sorry!" She said with a flustered face. "I thought that was mine..."

Jellal bit his tongue as he tried to slowly move the phone to his lap, but to his dismay he dropped it in the seat.

Levy and Gajeel were too busy enjoying a laugh with one another to see the screen, but Erza got a quick peak at text from a person named "Sorano." The idea of another woman being on his text screen made Erza's skin crawl, and so she decided to remain quiet for the rest of the night as well.

As an hour or two passed and each Fairy found themselves walking home, Jellal and Erza were walking back to his car arm and arm. The walk was quiet and difficult, and eventually Jellal broke the silence.

"Erza tell me…did you read my phone the other night?"

She stopped the walk and looked down. "Yes…you seemed to have a few texts from girls back in Crocus."

Jellal sighed. "And you probably saw Sornao just texted me back in the bar…I really need to get a new number."

That didn't really make Erza fell any better. "I guess so…why do so many girls seem to have your current one?"

Jellal scratched the back of his head. "Oh I mean it's only like two or three…"

Erza held up her fingers. "Those two from Crocus, this Sornao girl, Jenny from the Acalypha game seemed awfully happy to see you, and Lucy tells me you used to date one of her former teachers?"

Jellal held up a hand. "Okay that one I can explain. We went to college together…she was my first steady relationship."

Erza rolled her eyes. "Well…is that the argument for the other dozen as well?"

Jellal let go of her arm. "Erza…I'm sorry my break from the FBA is starting to catch up to me. I had a couple years to see new places…and meet new people."

Erza gasped. "YOUR FBA BREAK!? You mean to tell me these girls all come from the TWO YEARS AFTER WE ORIGINALLY BROKE UP!?"

Jellal grabbed her hand before she ran away. "Erza wait! Haven't you seen how I react when they text?"

She stood silent as she turned back to see his eyes.

"I…I can't stand it when they text me. Yes, I'd be lying if I didn't say I enjoyed my time with them, but now they truly are a burden. Hell they only wanted me in the first place because I was an FBA all-star…"

Erza kept her face turned away, but felt a bit of guilt cross over her mind as she recalled being one of those "fan girls" back when she first met Jellal in college.

He then brought her closer. "But please, make no mistake…There's a reason I don't respond to them, and it isn't just because they annoy me…it's because they annoy you as well."

That left her confused. "W-what do you mean?"

Jellal looked down as he held Erza in his arms. "Look…I'm not sure how you feel about our relationship now, but I feel happier than ever. I get to enjoy a new town with a new team…and a new partner by my side who thinks just like I do."

Erza blushed but turned her head in a tiny pout. "You don't need to be cheesy, Jellal…"

He smiled and brought her closer. "Why? Do you like it too much?" He then leaned in to place a soft kiss on her lips, but in a quick moment she responded by accepting and delivering one in return.

Night time strangers walked by whistling and waving their hands as Jellal and Erza blocked them out. Then, as they ended the moment, Erza smiled.

"How about we get you a new phone tomorrow? But for now let's just go back to my place."

"Sounds good." He turned, grabbed her arm, and started walking once again. "Lead the way, Erza."

Now, we find Gray sitting all alone with a beer bottle in his hands as he watches the Far West coast FBA games come to an end on his TV. However, instead of actually watching the games, the stubborn small forward stared at his phone waiting for a message to come up that he knew would never emerge.

Time passed throughout the entire fourth quarter, but not once did the phone go off. As a result, he downed the rest of his beer at the buzzer and stood up to throw it away. He left his phone to go crash on his bed, until he heard his phone actually light up with a dim glow and a faint buzz.

Gray slowly walked over, but then heard it ring again, and again, and again, and again, and on and on it went. His heart raced for a tiny second as confusion swept through his mind. "Geeze! What did she do, wreck the boat and text for help?!"

No, she did not.

"Heyy sorry for not texting. I've been with Bora all morning. We had a nice flight down, but now things are starting to get boring…"

"Sorry, Bora looked at me. I don't think he likes the idea of seeing me send random texts…I just told him they were to Meldy. ;p"

"Oh the boat looks big, but also scary! I don't think I can do it! I like the water from the beach, but the thought of the open ocean gives me nightmares!"

"I'm really sorry! Signal down here has been sooo bad! Especially on the boat! I hope you're getting all these messages on time and not all at once!"

"Oh Bora asked me to try this really strong drink! I spit it out and now he feels bad…I guess I'll just drink water from here on out to cheer him up?"

"OMG WE SAW A SHARK! It was just as big as the boat! I'm telling him to take me home right away!"

"The sunset down here is beautiful! I wish you could see it…"

"Sorry Bora and I were sailing back into the bay. We talked for a while…"

Gray didn't like that one. He had a hard time believing they only "talked."

"We're back on land! Oh my legs feel so wobbly! I can barely stand!"

"Oh no…I just realized my phone has been on a delay…"

"I'M SOOOOO SOTTY FOR SLL THE TEXTS! I've prbably left you with a heart attack!"

The typos in her rushed reply made Gray smile.

"Okay, Bora and I are going to bed…I'll just stick to sending you two texts tomorrow. Night :)"

Gray tried to hold in his smile the entire time, but the sheer thought that Juvia spent her whole day out on the warm ocean texting him kind of made him feel...good.

"Heh…ah don't worry Juvia. I'm sure you'll get home safe." He then sent back as simple reply before going to bed.

"Haha it's fine. They made me laugh. Night"

At the exact same time as Gray decided to head to sleep, we find ourselves back in a similar situation, only this time Natsu is the one watching the end of the west coast basketball game.

"AGH! CALL THE DAMN FOWL EARLIER NEXT TIME! GOD!" He threw his empty can at the TV as Tartaros claimed yet another victory, giving them an undefeated record for the month of October.

"Lousy a-holes…" He began to pout but then stopped as he heard his sister yelling back to him.

"NATSU! CHECK YOUR PHONE!"

He leaned over the couch. "WENDY! KEEP STUDYING!" He had no idea what she was really doing, but it was more than likely texting Romeo. He imagined that Lucy interrupted her to try and get Natsu's attention, because as Natsu followed his sister's advice, he found a new message waiting for him on his screen.

"Hey…I'm really sorry about tonight. :( My dad was being ridiculous. He actually tried taking my phone at first, but I quickly reminded him how old I was and had to take it back."

Natsu howled with laughter as he read Lucy's message. He then replied. "HA! Glad to see the daddy issues aren't keepin ya down."

Lucy quickly replied. "Shut up Natsu…no really I feel awful about bailing on you! Then I found out he had the nerve to send you some letter!? Gods does he think I'm like 10!? Please don't judge me because he's crazy!"

Natsu laughed again. "Well I don't blame him! You seem kinda grumpy right now."

Lucy responded. "Forget it…you're not helping either."

Natsu rushed to reply. "Hey come on I was just tryin to give you a laugh!" He then sent out his real response.

"Listen…let's go somewhere just the two of us this weekend. It sounds like you need time away from your dad anyway. We can find a movie or something!"

Lucy lingered a little longer in making her next reply.

"Yea that sounds nice. :)"

She then sent back a second message. "But I'll warn you now…If my dad hears you're taking me out he might send you to a new team. ;)"

Natsu chuckled. "Eh, let him. I'll see ya on Saturday. We'll say 7:00?"

"Okay! Sounds like a plan! :D"

"Deal. Night Luce."

"Luce? I see how it is…night Natsu :)"

Natsu shut off his phone without sending or reading another word. Instead he just sat back and smiled.

"Hah…well hey. She seems pretty stressed out with her dad. Maybe I can try and make it up to her tomorrow!"

That was a long one. I had Jude's letter written in this cool font that looked like handwriting, but this website... I still liked the letter though! Made it more official, and it also brought out the pretentious D-bag resonating inside Jude, mixed with his semi-redeeming protective/caring father side.

Well I hope Jerza can balance things out. Miraxus and GaLe seem pretty stable. We can call them the "normal ones."

Also Gruvia and NaLu had a bit of bounce back. Where will this all go next chapter? TBH I have no idea, that's what makes this story so fun!

As always leave your reviews, and I'll get the next one out eventually!