Chapter 1.
Natsu knelt down to the floor and put two fingers to her throat. "She's still breathing, thank goodness" he thought. "Lucy, take the kids now" he ordered in a cold voice. Without question, she came up while Natsu blocked her view of Erza and grabbed the kids while Lily was still shaking. "Come on kids, come on" she said quickly getting them in the house and to the kitchen. "Jellal…come over here." "Not Gray?" "No, just you" he said in a low growl. Jellal walked cautiously over to Natsu and felt his heart stop. Natsu didn't bother looking up at him knowing what he was feeling right now as Jellal balled his hands into fists. Out of the corner of his eyes, Natsu saw Jellal's fists turn white with how tight he was clenching them. Picking her up delicately, he said "we're taking her to the hospital" Jellal just nodded in agreement, afraid if he said anything, the rage he was feeling would be let out. "Lucy, Gray. Get the kids in the car now. We are going to the hospital" Natsu and Jellal turned and got into his car while Lucy and the others were right behind them and piled into her car pulling out behind them.
"What the hell is happening" asked Lucy. "I don't know Lucy; we'll find out when we get to the hospital" They all drove as Natsu and Jellal looked back at Erza in the back. The kids stayed eerily quiet the whole ride. Lucy wasn't going to take the risk of asking who they saw for if Natsu wanted her to see, he would've let her at the house. Pulling up, they saw Natsu give signal telling them to hold off from getting out while Jellal holding Erza went through the door. "Come on Lucy, you three as well" said Gray after he saw motion it was alright. They went in as Natsu shut the door Erza was in shutting everyone out. "Why can't we see who it was Natsu?" "Because you can't right now" "Nats" "Don't question me on this Lucy" His tone shook her to her core as her legs quivered.
He had never used a tone like that on her. "Mom?" Layla said worried going over to her. She looked up at Natsu as Lucy grabbed Layla's hand. "Not now baby girl..not now" She could see through Lucy's eyes that her mother wasn't lying. Watching Wendy and other nurses go in and out of the room, they sat there for forty-five minutes until Jellal poked his head out. "Natsu" he said hard. He got up and went in shutting the door behind them. Wendy and her team had cleaned Erza the best they could and stopped the bleeding from the gunshot wound but she was still in severe rough shape. "What do you want to do Jellal?" He was silent for a moment before answering. "Let Lucy and Gray in. They deserve to know." The venom in his voice was clear and something Natsu knew all too well . Very aware of his emotions, he slowly walked back and opened the door calling the others in. Lucy was completely at a loss for words as she came in and saw Erza.
Tears flooded her eyes as Gray put a hand on her shoulder clenching his jaw. Natsu silently moved to sit in a chair. "Err..zza" Lucy choked out. Gray swung her into his arms having her cry on his shoulder. Tristan and Lilyanna comforted Layla who had broken down completely. With a small knock on the door, Wendy opened the door and walked in. "I can't believe I have to tell them this..please forgive me guys" she thought heartbroken. "How is she Wendy?" asked Natsu taking charge. "She's got some internal bleeding in her brain…whoever did this..they knew where to hit cause they just missed her vital organs…" Her voice cracked as she continued " and…right now, with the internal bleeding, there's no way to tell you when she will wake up" "Wendy, are you saying….?" "Yes Lucy, Erza is in a coma" " Thanks Wendy, you can go now" Gray said kindly opening the door for her to get her out before Natsu and Jellal exploded.
He had Lucy go sit with the kids as Lucy and Layla held each other sniffling. "You two should go somewhere to cool off" Gray suggested but the death looks given from Jellal and Natsu silenced him immediately. Layla attempted to take a step forward when Lucy gave her a look stopping her as she sat back down. "Now is not the time Layla. Your dad is not fully himself right now" she said quietly as everyone sensed the fuming rage and fury coming from the other two. Lucy knew End was there but only partially. Natsu was still in plenty of control. "Mom, I don't think I've ever seen uncle Jellal this angry" Layla whispered. "Dad either" They wouldn't admit out loud but Natsu's and Jellal's emotions were scaring Lucy and Gray as well.
"You all know who did this" spoke Natsu flatly. Jellal took a seat next to Erza and grabbed her hand squeezing it gently. Natsu's knuckles had turned white from holding them so tightly. "This sorry piece of shit. He attacked a member of our mafia…and not only that, he attacked and hurt a member of our family" Everyone nodded in agreement with anger. "What are your orders Natsu?" asked Gray. "If this son of a bitch wanted a war, he's got one…your orders?, fucking get Gajeel into the base. If we are going to start cracking heads, I want him here" He replied. "Natsu…how did they even know where to find where to find us?" Lucy peeped in.
"Hmph, something tells me he's known where we've lived for a while now but waited until I had sent my best fighter out…" Lucy heard the low growl coming from him. "He ambushed her and then sent her back as a message. Well ,message received you bastard. YOU GOT MY ATTENTION!" he shouted making Lucy and the kids flinch. "Jellal, you stay here" he ordered as Jellal looked at him with a deadpan face and waved it off as he stood up. "No, Erza would want me out there fighting this sac of shit with you guys and besides you told me I was your second after Erza.. Natsu..if I stay here, I'm just going to go nuts so just let me come" "Fine you can come." He said giving Jellal an understanding look. "Natsu..should we call him?" asked Lucy. "No" he replied turning to Lucy. "I don't want to get them involved unless we have too." "And you don't think this is a good time?"
"Not yet Lucy" he said firmly. "Lilyanna" "Yes sir!" she said quickly standing to her feet. " I was going to give your father a benefit of doubt for just being a shitty father and power hungry…but after this..what he did to Erza.." "You don't have to continue…I understand and completely agree. He needs to pay for what he did, whether he is my father or not..so do what you must Natsu" she told him sincerely without a single doubt in her voice.
"What do we do now Natsu?. We're short on members and you told them to stay home" said Gray. "They can stay home; this is about us. I believe we just need our team. Did you call Gajeel yet?" "No, I'll do that once" "NO, do it now. I want him to see why we are doing this" "Yes sir" he said bowing his head and stepping out of the room to call. Lucy still felt very wary looking up at Natsu.. "Is this all you..or is end" "It's me but he's fully aware of what's going on."
"Wait" Layla spoke surprising everyone as they looked at her. "Dad..what about aunt Erza?. Are we just going to leave her here alone?" her eyes still brimming with tears. "Layla, come here" said Jellal. He looked at her with a kind expression as he grabbed her hand. "Aside from your home, this is the safest place for her to be. Nobody knows about this place outside the mafia, I promise" "But what if she wakes up and she's alone?, Wendy said she didn't know" Jellal closed his eyes and laughed a dry laugh as he reopened his eyes.
"Honey, unfortunately I know she won't be waking up right now and it could be a while before she does. So, the best thing for us right now is got out there and fight for her." Layla depressingly agreed while Jellal put his arms around her and gave her a hug. "Hey" said Gray coming back in. "Well?" "He's coming, he said it shouldn't take him long" "Good, Natsu..come on" said Lucy firmly grabbing his wrist. "Wha?, Luce, what are you doing" "You are minutes away from exploding so I'm taking you out" No one including Natsu said anything as they watched her pull Natsu out of the room and outside.