Safe

While I was showering and putting on the clothes Natsu gave me, I can hear his faint voices echoing inside his room. He called Ashley and is cooperating with the agents in the Monitoring Room.

"Ashley, I'm not in my condo..." I heard him say.

I am now combing my hair. I can hear the frustration in his voice. I wonder if Ashley visits his condo?

"Is your dad home?" he asked.

I opened the door to get out of the bathroom. I am wearing the white longsleeve button down shirt niya and the gray short pants ending inches above my knees. I heard his soft curses and caught him looking at me while massaging his temples. He turned to his computer, his face and neck red. "Where is he then?" he asked while manoeuvring the mouse.

I took out my phone to text Sting and Virgo. I will check if they're fine too. Actually, even if dad's family isn't involved here, I'm still scared for Beau. But I don't want to freak out. It won't help.

I sent Virgo a text, asking about Beau and instructing her to lock the doors. I also asked about her bodyguards. After sending her a text, I wrote another one for Sting to ask him to stay the night to my condo and look at Beau. It's better be safe than sorry.

"Can I talk to Aunt Layla?" Natsu asked.

I placed my phone at the table beside the bed. I shivered. The air conditioner is really cold so I grabbed the comforter and covered myself with it.

"Ash, this is important..." Natsu said.

My sister's giving him a hard time. I took a deep breath while staring at Natsu. He combed his pink locks using his fingers.

"It's about business. Yes, I'm fine. I already ate. I'm not in my condo..."

He repeated that for a while. Sting replied so I grabbed my phone again.

Sting:

Yes, I'm staying. I was about to call you when I received your text. Where are you and can't you go home?

Me:

I'm in Balsam. Are your body guards around?

Natsu turned to me. His phone is still on his ear. I dropped my phone again to the table. The bed creaked as he took a seat on the space beside my hips.

"I'll call back when you're dad's home. Please send me his number, okay?"

Natsu stayed silent for a few moments, probably listening to Ashley's replies, "Yes. Don't worry. Thank you..." he said before quickly ending the call. He dropped his phone beside the other side of my hips. I yawned. I slept during the ride but tiredness still attacked me. He smiled and caressed my cheek with his warm thumb.

"What did Ashley say?" I felt some tears on the corner of my eyes because of sleepiness and tiredness.

He wiped it using his fingers. My eyelids are heavy. Based on the coffee on his computer table, I'm sure he won't be sleeping tonight.

"Your uncle Apollo's still not home. I'll call her again after thirty minutes and she'll send me your uncle's number."

"Why didn't you tell her where you are right now?" I asked.

He shook his head, "Do I need to tell her? We just want your family to be safe..."

I stared at my hand that he is slowly touching. He played with my fingers. This feeling is nostalgic. I felt my heart warmed.

"How about mom?" I asked, remembering mom and I had a fight.

"She's in your house. Do you want to call her?" Natsu asked.

I shook my head. I'm not sure if my mom wants to talk to me. And I'm still hurt at what she said to me. Even then, I still want them safe.

"Okay. Sleep now, Luce. I'll make sure they're safe tonight," Natsu assured.

"Thank you..." I yawned again.

I couldn't remember how I slept anymore. The last thing I saw are his onyx eyes. I woke up to the ringing of a phone.

I looked around the room to find what's ringing. I saw Natsu grabbing his phone while still staring at the computer. The room is already dark. I think he turned off the lights when I was about to sleep. I looked at the windows but I couldn't see the outside because of the thick curtains covering those.

"Yes. I'll be there. Wait..." Natsu said before quickly grabbing the jacket. I sat while watching him. He was about to get out when he spotted me awake. He cursed softly and stopped running.

"Y-You're awake!" He said.

"Yup. What's wrong?"

I turned to the computer and saw how the agents there are busy. I also saw them with firearms and my heart raced. What the hell is happening?

"Whatever happens, you have to only stay here. Your uncle Apollo is going here with your mom and sister."

"They're going here?" I asked.

"They're already in Balsam..." he said with a rasped voice.

"Then?" I asked, starting to panic. I have a feeling that I won't be calmed with just staying here.

"We need to check on them. The agents we sent said that a group blocked their way."

"Oh my God! What? Let's go to them!" I said.

He closed his eyes tight and pointed the bed. "You stay here..." he ordered.

"I can't! How about mommy?"

"We'll handle it. I need you to be safe here. Stay here!" He ordered again.

I shook my head. I cannot just stay here and wait. I want to be there. I want to see if my mom, my sister, and Uncle Apollo are going to be okay.

"Please, Natsu," I touched his arm.

I saw how red his eyes are. He's frustrated and confused. He massaged his temple before walking to the cabinet. He grabbed another jacket there, "Fine... But please, Luce. When I tell you to stay inside my car, you're going to stay. Alright?"

I nodded while putting on the jacket he gave me. I couldn't calm myself anymore. The images of what happened years ago attacked my memories. I don't want it to happen again!

"Promise me!" He said. I nodded again.

He grabbed my arm. I only looked up to meet his eyes when I felt how desperate and nervous his hold was, "Promise me..."

"I promise..." I said.

We ran down the staircase. The sun is about to get out but the air is still cold. He guided me to an SUV. I'm on the back seat with two agents. Natsu is on the front seat and the driver is his body guard.

"Confirmed, Natsu. They were blocked and are exchanging shots right now," the man beside me said. They were carrying large and long guns. Natsu also started fixing his own gun. My throat dried.

"Are we late?" Natsu asked. "Not yet. They said they were many. Jacob called, they joined in firing now."

The driver drove faster, "They made a mistake targeting the wrong people. And why did they think that they can attack here in Balsam knowing that our headquarters is here," the other man beside me said before looking at me. Maybe he was confused why there's a girl inside the van.

"Maybe they're many. Touka knows that Drakes agents aren't as many as before. She probably think they can take us down..." Natsu said.

I forced myself to breathe to calm myself. I've never been this nervous before. Even before in Magnolia, I wasn't this nervous!

"Lucy, I need you to stay here whatever happens. This is an armored vehicle. No matter how many bullets were fired here, you won't get hurt. But I want you to stay down. I can't risk your safety..." Natsu said while tightly holding my hand.

I just nodded, unable to speak. The car made a turn on the intersection.

"We're near..." the driver said.

"We're going to rescue your family," Natsu added.

"They'll be okay, right?" I asked.

"Yes..." he assured me. My eyes went down to the gun that he's holding. He's going to exchange fires too.

"Are you going to be fine?" I said, my voice cracking.

"Yes..."

My eyes widened when I saw cars on the intersection. There are two cars which blocked mommy's car. There's also a black van behind them with its doors open. There are some SUVs around where we parked.

Shots showered our van. I quickly docked.

The agents are noisy. They readied their firearms. I didn't even see mommy, Uncle Apollo, and Ashley. I couldn't properly look outside in fear of getting shot. I stayed down for a while.

"Invel, stay here..." Natsu ordered the driver. They went out. Sounds of gunfires got loud again. I looked at where Natsu is hiding and saw the agent I saw last night. His arm is bleeding but he's still firing his gun.

Invel drove a bit to distance our van from them. They cannot fire at us anymore but I can still see them from here. They are still exchanging fires.

"Where's mommy?" I asked despite knowing that Invel won't have an answer to that. I stood a little to see mommy's van but Invel scolded me, "Ma'am, please stay put..."

I saw someone fell from a distance. It's a man wearing black and carrying a large gun. Maybe he was shot which made Natsu stood up and ran to the other car to see their assailants clearly.

Natsu and his team were very visible now. I can now see them in front. And I also saw mommy's car windows open. Ashley's hair and crying face made itself clear to my vision.

"Ash!" I shouted even if I know I won't be heard.

Natsu said something to Ashley which made her close the window again. Shots started to fire again.

I slightly calmed down upon seeing Ashley. She's still inside the car. Mom and Uncle Apollo are probably there too!

I saw how Natsu's agents ran towards where the fires are coming from. I also saw some of them are wounded.

My eyes widened when Ashley suddenly went out of the car. I heard mommy shouted and desperately tried to tug her back inside. Natsu stood up and shouted because of what Ashley did but it's too late.

My sister ran towards Natsu. But when Natsu got ahold of her waist, a man fired his gun.

I got stunned. Ashley fell down on Natsu's shoulder. Natsu quickly fired back which made the man fall on the floor.

Natsu sat down with Ashley and saw his hands covered in blood.

"Ashley!" I shouted.

Mommy's van opened and I saw her ran towards my sister. The sounds of gunfires got louder. Two agents went to Natsu and helped in stopping the blood in Ashley's abdomen. Mommy is already crying beside Ashley.

Natsu talked to mommy and saw some agents carried Ashley back to their van. I almost cried at the horrendous scene in front.

An agent went inside the driver seat of mommy's van. Natsu entered the backseat of their SUV. He glanced at the van I'm in one more time before closing the door.

The exchange continued until mommy's SUV left. The exchange of shots slowly stopped. Some men wearing black were caught by Natsu's agents. Two police cars arrived after it.

We stayed there for a while before leaving. Some agents talked to the authorities. I even saw a body being covered in white cloth. I couldn't speak because of panic. Ashley's shot! Oh my God!

The agent with a wound on his arm went inside our van.

"Go with the ambulance!" Invel scolded.

"I'm fine..." he said while wiping the blood on his arm.

"What happened? How was it? Were they caught?" I asked, panicking. I don't know what to ask first.

"Some managed to run but we caught most of them. That's enough, I think. They can interrogate those who survive."

"How about Ashley?" I asked, "She was shot!"

He looks like he didn't get my question. He sat beside me and closed the door. The man beside me on our way here took the front seat because Natsu's not here.

"The girl who got shot? I don't know. She was hit on the side of her abdomen Your father is Apollo Luna?" The man asked.

I shook my head, "He's my uncle..."

"He got shot too. And their other bodyguards are all wounded. His driver's dead," he said quietly.

I closed my eyes, "What hospital were they taken? I want to go to them!" I shouted.

"No! Natsu said you should stay where you are safe!" He shouted back.

I bit my lip. Damn it!

"But I want to see my family!"

They ignored me. I think that no matter how I rampaged here, they won't break Natsu's firm orders. Invel started driving back to the headquarters.

I can't help but feel so useless. I just watched them exchanging shots. And Ashley was shot! Oh my God!

I quickly went inside the mansion. Some agents went to us with General Dragneel.

"Are you okay, Lucy?" was Zeref's question.

I wiped the tears that are streaming down my face. I repeatedly think of what happened earlier and my worry just got worse. "My sister got shot..."

Zeref turned to Invel, "I received the reports from August. I will talk to the Fiore Forces. We have a witness."

I looked at him, "The former Senator Alabaster is our primary witness. Your Uncle Apollo and me would also have a talk. If he's going to file a case, then he needs to talk to Alabaster..."

I nodded and took a deep breath. Zeref turned to Invel and nodded at him.

"Dimaria..." he called the woman who's my age with short hair. She's wearing a black racerback top and black jogger pants.

"Sir!"

"Please treat Larcade..." General Dragneel said, pertaining to the agent beside me earlier with a wound on his arm.

"Sir, yes, sir!" Dimaria shouted before turning to Larcade.

"Come on..." she chuckled.

"Get inside. I'm sure Natsu will be here in an hour, Lucy."

I sighed at what Zeref said. I know it's going to be difficult in the hospital. And I can understand why he won't be home early.

"I know you want to check on your family but it's better to wait for him first before doing so," General Zeref Dragneel softly said.