Chapter 8
Layla was quivering as she heard the whole thing and the volume of his voice scared her. "Daddy" she cried quietly. His face quickly softened as he looked at her Putting his other arm around her, he hugged her as he very caringly said I'm sorry Layla. I did not mean to shout in your ear" She nodded understanding as she reached a hand to his face as he smiled a white toothy grin at her exposing his sharper teeth making her giggle. "Natsu" said Jellal as his grin disappeared as he faced Jellal. "What?" he said flatly. "What happened to make you race out of here? Lucy said you were in a panic" "can I put you down baby girl" he asked sweetly turning his face to her as she profusely shook her head no. "No,okay but I gotta switch you to my other shoulder okay?" she nodded as he lifted her putting her on the other side of him. Adjusting himself, his face went back to being serious as he looked at the others. "Lucy, I want you to go upstairs" "What, Natsu, I'm not" he gave her a look cutting her off. "Natsu I am your partner in the mafia remember!" she protested. "LUCY!" her body shook as he had a very serious expression on his face. " I said go upstairs..don't make me ask again" She wasn't going to dare to push him further as she surrendered with a downcast expression as she went up the stairs. Before she reached the top, she turned as Natsu pleadingly said "baby please" Hearing his softer tone, she was more willing as she nodded and went up the stairs. Hearing her shut the door, Natsu looked back towards the others. "Okay, Layla baby, I gotta sit down" he told her as he made his way to the couch. She pouted as he said "don't worry, you don't have to get down, daddy's legs are just tired" Sitting down, she sat flat into his lap clinging to his shirt as he wrapped his arms around her.
"It was Zeref" he said bluntly. "HUH?" they all exclaimed. "Zeref, the ..the jerk showed up at her school." He answered. "What the hell was he doing there?" asked Gray. "I have no clue..that's what worries me." he admitted. "Is that why you didn't want Lucy to know" said Jellal. "She stays out of this, do you all hear me. I want Lucy far away from this. Damn prick has hurt her enough.. Crud, Layla do not repeat any of those words to your mother understand?" he said looking down at her as she nodded. " She was right though Natsu, she is your queen in the mafia" said Erza. "No, not in this she's not." "Natsu, she has a right to know" argued Erza. "Jellal.." he said threateningly. "Erza, stop now" Jellal warned as he watched Natsu's face get darker and darker. " I am three seconds away from kicking you all out and that's me being nice since my daughter is right here" "Erza" Jellal urged as he looked at her begging her to quit while she was ahead. Finally she said "fine" as she relaxed while the other two let out a breath of relief. "Well what do you want us to do then?" she asked. He sat there contemplating while he looked at Layla cuddled into his shirt. "Give me a minute, I have to run to the bathroom" he told them. "Layla, I gotta get up" "No!" she cried as he set her down on the couch and leaned down. "Sweetheart, I'll be right back I promise" he said with a smile as she curled herself on the couch as he left.
"So, what do we do?" asked Gray once he saw Natsu go into the bathroom. "Nothing you morons, In case you didn't notice but he was this close to knocking you both on your asses" said Jellal. "Are you afraid of him?" "Respectfully yes because I know exactly what he is capable of, so do you Erza..which is you both need to stop pissing him off. Nice or not, he's going to lose it at some point." "Jellal, Lucy has a right to know Zeref went to their daughter's school" she said annoyed. "Honey..i understand but it is not our place to tell her. That is Natsu's call. He knows her better then we do and if he doesn't want to tell her then we respect what he wants" he said reasonably. "I just want this bastard dead" she said angrily. " We all do Erza" said Gray. They all turned and looked at Layla who was huddled together on the couch. "Layla, honey why don't we take you to your mom" suggested Erza as she bent down to grab as Layla swiped at her hands. "No!" "Layla" "I want daddy!" she yelled furiously. "Hey" they turned and saw Natsu standing there as Layla jumped off the couch and ran to him. "Daddy!" she said as he put his hand on top of her head as she grabbed at his leg. "Told you I would be right back baby girl" he said softly. " You wanna tell me what you guys were trying to do?" he asked irritated. "I was just trying to see if she wanted to go to her mom, that's all" "Oh is that all? And you guys weren't planning on trying to tell her behind my back.. well least not all of you" They tried not to look shocked but couldn't help it as he said " did you forget, I have good hearing. Seems like Jellal is the smart one "
He growled slightly as he picked Layla back up. "I think you guys should leave ..now. I'll call later" "Natsu, I'm so" Erza tried to apologize as Natsu gave her a hard look stopping her. "Go" Giving him an apologetic look, Erza followed the guys out as he eerily closed the door slowly behind them. " Daddy" she said as she tugged at her shirt. "What is it?" "You aren't going to stay mad at them forever are you?" He closed his eyes as he shook his head and chuckled. "No Layla, I won't stay mad but that's not for you to worry about alright?" he said gently as he touched her nose. She had a happy grin on her face as she laid her head against his chest making his cheeks go red. "I love you" "I love you too daddy" " Yo Luce!, you can come down baby" he yelled up the stairs as she opened the door and came down. "Where did they go?" "Oh I sent them home" he said casually. "Really? I would've thought they would have stayed longer with how worried you looked" "It was fine" he answered. "Hey, why don't you go say hi to mommy, you haven't said anything to her since you got home" he suggested lightly as she nodded. Natsu set her down as she happily yelled "mommy!" and ran to Lucy who had her arms open waiting. She scooped her up and spun her some. "Hi baby girl" she said cheerfully. "How was school today?" "It was fun!, we painted" she replied. "Painting, that's wonderful Layla." "Uh huh, I painted for you and daddy but have to finish it tomorrow" "Aww Layla, you didn't have to paint anything for us but thank you" said Lucy as she glanced and saw Natsu smiling in the corner.
"I gotta run up the stairs quick, I'll be right back" Natsu said as he went up. "Well Layla, what do you want to do for the rest of the day?" "I don't know" she answered innocently as Lucy heard a knock at the door making Lucy curious. "Hey Natsu!, are we expecting anyone today?" she yelled up at him. "No" he answered as she went to the door. "as far as I know , we didn't have anyone coming over. I told them to call so it shouldn't b..no it couldn't be" He scrambled out of his room. "DON'T OPEN THAT DOOR!" he screamed as he slid down the stairs seeing Layla on the floor and Lucy frozen to the doorway. "Lucy…" he said warily and concerned as she stiffly turned towards him shaking. "Nnnnatsuuu" she trembled as he raced to the door to see Zeref standing there. Getting outside he stood protectively in front of the door .
"Nice to see you again Lucy" he greeted as she shook her head in terror. "Lucy ,get back now" Layla was in front of her shaking as Natsu turned his head towards them. "Lucy, in the side table, my handgun is in there" he whispered as she nodded quickly understanding as she ran to get it. He stood his ground as Lucy came back with the gun and handed it through the opening he left. Clicking the safety off, he said "stay in here" as he quickly shut the door and aimed his gun. "Now Natsu, we're brothers, there's no need for that" Zeref said calmly as Natsu fired his gun. "You are no family of mine" he said aggressively as the bullet dodged him. Jumping off the stairs, they circled each other. "You have got to be stupid to come to my front door" said Natsu. "Why's that?" "Because you son of a bitch you went after my wife and child. And theres no fucking way I'm letting you get away with that" Zeref chuckled as he said "I'm not here to fight you Natsu" Seeing him so calm just pissed Natsu off more as he yelled putting his gun away as he charged at him with his fist but Zeref easily avoided him throwing Natsu off. Glaring at him, Natsu said "then why the hell are you here if you aren't fighting because I'll tell you if you're here to beg, you aren't getting shit from me. You are going to burn for what you did you bastard." "No, I came to ask you a question" "Hmph, what's that?" "Where is mother?" Feeling rage, he said "that woman is no mother of mine" "Not true, she gave birth to us both" he said factually. " she may have given birth to us but that is all. That bitch is no relation to me" "Natsu, where is she?" he asked getting serious.
"Ya know what, I have no goddamn idea but wherever she is , I hope she's in hell" he said with a wicked grin as he saw Zeref's face change to anger for a second before it turned back calm. "You know what, that's fine. I'll get the answer one way or another…I'm sure Lucy might know." He taunted. "YOU STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM HER. AND FROM LAYLA" he screamed furious as he got ready to fight him again as Zeref walked the other way with a smile on his face. It took everything in him not to go after Zeref but he wasn't risking Lucy and Layla's safety as he went back inside and shut the door fast. Putting his back to it, he stood against for a minute as Lucy and Layla came running around a corner throwing their arms around him. He put a comforting hand around Layla's head as he embraced a crying Lucy. "Nnnatsuu" "It's alright Lucy" he said in a pacifying way as she continued to cry. "I'm terrified" she said in a quiet voice. "Luce look at me" he told her calmly as she lifted her face to look at him. "He will not touch you again, I promise" he told her strongly. She nodded her head as she began to cry harder. "Baby" he said sadly as he pulled her back into him. "Daddy" Layla said softly with a sad voice as she gripped his pants hard. "I'm right here Layla, not going anywhere" She let of his leg as she motioned for him to pick him up. Sighing, he picked her up as he stuck on one arm as he continued hugging Lucy with his other. "What the hell am I gonna do" he thought nervously not letting it show on his face as he led them both upstairs to their bedroom where neither of them loosened their grip on him. "So much for Layla going to her mom" he thought amused as he saw they were both stuck to him like glue.