A/N: Guuuuuyysssssss thank you so much for the lovely reviews :D love you all and hope you enjoy this chapter!
Previously:
Gray sighed running a hand through his hair. "Natsu will kill me if I tell you."
Lucy narrowed her eyes. "He doesn't have to know." Then she smirked. "Are you scared of him?" Hopefully, he'll take the bait. "Didn't know you were such a scaredy-cat."
Gray's eyes twitched. "It's not that I—"
"Scaredy cat bahaha."
His hands clenched. "I'm not scared of him!"
Lucy crossed her arms. "Then tell me."
Gray rubbed the spot between his brows in frustration. "Fine, You want to know. I'll tell you."
Lucy smiled in victory. She thinks she will use this more around him. And maybe it will work on Natsu now.
He took a deep breath. "I knew your mom before she died."
Lucy's eyes widened.
"What?"
"How did you know my mom."
Gray bit his lips nervously. If he's about to tell her everything, no one must hear about it. Especially not Natsu. When Natsu stormed on them earlier he had told him all the truth. About him and Lucy and her mother. Even after he knew he still insisted on not telling Lucy anything. He claims she's still grieving her father. The news about her mother will shock her. And she's had enough already. Gray knows this is not the only reason that Natsu's not telling her. He knows he's scared. But Lucy is so strong that he thinks she will be able to handle everything that comes her way. And he will always be there for her. He will always protect her.
Gray's heart squeezed when he remembered the kiss. He laughed bitterly. After all these years chasing after her in the shadows. After all these years of waiting for the right moment to confess. To at least introduce himself in the right way. He shook his head. He was too late and it's his fault. Now she loves Natsu. His best friend.
"Umm, Gray?"
He looked up and saw a frown on her face. He grabbed her hand and lead her out of the room.
"Wait, Gray! Where are you taking me?"
He ignored her and pulled her along going downstairs heading for the garden. If he's going to tell her everything, He'll make sure no more people know.
Lucy just sighed and went along with it letting him drag her down. The sun was rising slowly so the sky was painted different shades of orange and pink. They stopped before a table with a few chairs, where Gray knew Lucy used to have tea parties with her mom and dad. When they were still a happy family.
They sat down across from each other and Lucy hugged her arms. "Why did you bring us outside, it's cold."
Gray almost smacked his forehead. He didn't notice she was wearing thin pajamas. He never minded the cold so he stood up and took his jacket off then walked over to her dropping it on her shoulders.
Lucy gave him an appreciative smile sliding her arms in the sleeves. Now she looked warm. He almost looked proud. "Thank you."
"I will tell you everything but promise you won't tell Natsu. I don't want to get in trouble."
Lucy nodded leaning forward in her seat eagerly. Gray took a deep breath. "Your mom used to work in the organization before she died."
Lucy's eyes widened. But he continued before she could say anything. "Your mom and My father used to be partners in the organization when they were my age. They used to go on missions together and always spent time with each other. They were really close. Until she met your…father."
He swallowed hard. "My father was in love with your mother. But he didn't have the courage to confess his love. So he just stayed by her side all these years hiding his love from her."
Gray remembered the time his father told him about his past. Before he met his mother. Before he had Gray. "Then one day she met your father through a mission and they fell in love. But he didn't know it was a mission. He didn't know the organization existed before. She hid everything from him. Said it was too dangerous for him to get involved. My father was devastated when he knew but he still supported your mom with her new relationship."
Gray chuckled. It was almost like telling his story. "My father realized she was happy with him and moved on. He met my mother then. They had me before they got married. After I was born my father proposed to my mother. But she fell ill the night of their wedding and died a week later."
Lucy's hands flew to her mouth. "Omg Gray, I'm so sorry about your mother."
He shrugged. He doesn't remember his mother at all. He just has one picture of her. He had her dark blue eyes. "My father didn't know what to do with me, so he went to the organization. they took me in, trained me, and made me one of their own. Then I met you."
Gray smiled at the memory. It was the first time he met Lucy.
Little Gray was in the training room with his father panting as he threw little punches toward his father.
"Come on boy, harder!" His father encouraged him as he blocked each punch.
Gray punched harder each time until he knocked his father backward. Then he threw his fist in the air yelling in victory. "I win!"
His father chuckled from the floor as Gay joined him both sweating and panting from the workout.
"Good job Gray!" He ruffled his hair smiling. "Tomorrow we will try something new."
Gray nodded as they lay on the floor for a couple of minutes resting. He was making fast progress in his training which made him proud. His father told him it was like he was made for this.
"Silver?"
They both sat up at the voice and Gray saw a blond woman holding a little girl.
Silver's eyes lit up and he quickly stood up walking to the woman. "Layla! it's so good to see you." He opened his arms to attack her with a hug but she dodged him giggling.
"Hug me when you're not sweaty like that." She said innocently.
Silver pouted crossing his arms. Gray tried to suppress his laugh but his father looked funny like that. He heard a little giggle from across him and saw the little girl with her hands covering her mouth.
She had her blond hair in big tails and she was wearing a pink flowy dress with white shoes. She looked like a fairy. Gray smiled as he walked up to her. He extended his arm. "Hello, I'm Gray."
The two adults shared a look between them before Layla nudged Lucy toward Gray. Little Lucy smiled shyly looking down.
Layla laughed softly. "She's a shy one."
He was about to lower his hand but the little girl grabbed his hand and shook it giving him a shy smile. "Hi, I'm Lucy."
Gray fixed his gaze at her and fell in love instantly. His father leaned down and whispered in his ear. "Oooh, I think someone's in loooooveeeee." His father teased him but he ignored him and pulled Lucy outside. "Come on, I'll show you around."
Lucy looked back at her mom panicking but she gave her a nod. They walked out and Gray closed the door behind them and put his eat on the door.
Lucy looked back at him in confusion. "What are you doing?"
Gray looked back at her and put his finger on his mouth telling her to be quiet. Lucy nodded and imitated his position.
Gray heard murmuring from the other side and closed his eyes to focus on the voices. Lucy stared at him for a second then copied him.
"—for a couple of days."
"I thought you didn't want your family to know about this place."
"I still don't. That's why after I pick her up, I will reach out to doctor Porlyusica."
"But she's a kid and probably won't remember anything anyway. Why do it?"
"I just want to make sure she has nothing to do with this place."
"Are you sure you can't leave her with her father?"
He heard a long sigh. "He's on a business trip right now. It's my chance now to take this mission before he comes back."
"Then I'll go with you."
"No, I need you to look out after Lucy."
There was a long pause.
"Silver, I need you to do this for me. You're the only one I trust here with my daughter."
"Layla—"
Suddenly someone snatched Gray from the back of his shirt lifting him in the air. "Who are you eavesdropping on?"
He gulped as Macao Conbolt, one of the agents narrowed his eyes at him. "Who's in there?"
He laughed nervously. "I wasn't eav—"
Lucy tapped Macao's leg. "Gray was teaching me a new game."
"Oh really?" He narrowed his eyes but dropped Gray who groaned as his butt hit the floor. He quickly sat up, took Lucy's hand and they ran together.
"Wait! I wasn't finished here!" Macao called after them but Gray speed up his run still holding Lucy's hand until he reached his room. They quickly got inside and shut the door. Both fell on the floor panting from the sudden run. He sighed in relief when he didn't hear Macao anymore.
Then he heard a giggle beside him. He turned his head and saw Lucy on her back giggling. Then her giggle turned to a laugh and he laughed with her. And he thought she had such a pretty laugh. At the thought, his cheeks turned pink and he shook his head clearing his head.
Then he stood up and took her hand to help her up. "Phew! we almost got caught!"
Lucy laughed nodding as she dusted her dress and adjusted her ponytails.
"Btw thanks."
She looked at him confused. "For what?"
He averted his eyes and cleared his throat. "You uhh covered up for me."
At this, Lucy smiled so huge her whole face lit up. "You're welcome, Gray!" And he couldn't help but smile along with her.
There was a knock on the door as his father came in with Lucy's mother behind him. "Momma!" Lucy ran to her mother and hugged her. Gray was surprised that Layla had a daughter. She never brought her here before.
Gray looked at them and quickly looked down his heart straining. He never met his mother. She died when he was born. He didn't know what it was like to have a mother. It's always been just him and his father.
His father walked to him and ruffled his hair. "Did you treat her good?"
He scoffed and crossed his arms. "Ofc! who do you think I am? Natsu?"
"Who's Natsu?" Lucy asked with curious eyes.
"He's a stupid troublemaker who annoys everyone around here," Gray smirked but his father smacked his head lightly.
"oww," He rubbed his head pouting earning a little giggle from Lucy.
Suddenly someone started banging on the door loudly. "Gray! open up and let's have our fight right now!"
Gray rolled his eyes. "Speak of the devil."
Layla laughed and opened the door to reveal Little Natsu with his spiky short pink hair. He came in with his fists ready "Come on fight me—" but stopped when he noticed the rest.
"Uhhhh who are you?" He asked pointing at Layla then Lucy "And you?"
Lucy hid behind her mother's leg. "I'm L-Lucy."
Layla smiled at him and crouched to his level. "You don't remember me Natsu?"
Gray smirked. "Of course he doesn't remember. He has a brain of a bird."
Natsu glared at him. "You wanna go, Ice princess!"
Layla stood up and crossed her arms. "Stop it both of you."
Silver snickered at them and leaned toward her. "The kids already forgot about you."
She ignored him and turned to the kids. "It's good you're here Natsu. I need to talk to you three."
She guided them to the bed and they sat, Lucy between Natsu and Gray and Silver stood next to Layla in front of the kids.
"Momma?" Lucy stared at her with big eyes. Gray sensed Lucy knew something was off.
Layla looked at the boys. "Boys. I'm leaving for a couple of days and Lucy will stay here until I come back."
Natsu turned to Lucy and back to Layla. "And?"
Gray and his father face palmed as Natsu just stared at her in confusion. Even Lucy who is younger than them sensed there was something.
"I told you he's an idiot," Gray whispered to Lucy.
"Hey! I heard that!" Natsu yelled reaching across Lucy to hit Gray but she stopped him with a glare. His eyes widened and he retreated his hand looking down.
"I'll handle this." Silver muttered to Layla and faced the boys. "Agents in training, stand up!"
The boys' faces changed into seriousness and they stood up both hands behind their backs. "Sir yes sir!"
"Lucy will stay with us for a few days. Will you protect her?"
"Sir yes sir!"
"Will you guard her?"
"Sir yes sir!"
"Will you make her happy while's she's here?"
"Sir yes sir!"
Silver smiled crossing his arms satisfied with them. "Very good, you may rest."
Layla crouched down in front of them and hugged the boys tight and gave each a big kiss on the cheek. "Thank you so much, boys."
Gray turned to Lucy to tell her she will have fun here but found her eyes filled with tears. "Lucy, why are you crying?"
"Oh Lucy," Layla went to her daughter and took her in her arms.
"You can't leave me too," Lucy said with a small hiccup. Layla wiped her tears. "I'm not leaving you, baby girl. It's just a couple of days. I need to do something important."
Lucy shook her head and buried her face in her mother's neck. Layla sighed and hugged her daughter looking back at Silver with worry.
Gray saw as Natsu walked to them and tapped Lucy on her shoulder. She pulled away from her mother her face tear-streaked.
He unwrapped his scarf and wrapped it around her neck. Then took the end of the fabric and wiped her tears with it. "This scarf will make you feel safe and protect you like it always did to me."
At that Gray and Silver's jaw dropped to the floor. Natsu doesn't give his scarf to anyone. He doesn't even let anyone touch it. There was one time when Gray tried to steal his scarf, Natsu went on a rampage. He knew there was a red line when it came to his scarf. Gray was shocked. And suddenly mad. He clenched his hands as Lucy thanked Natsu and hugged him.
After that Layla left with a goodbye kiss to Lucy and that left her with Gray and Natsu who showed her around the place. They started fighting on who Lucy should stay with until Silver told them she will have her own room which disappointed both.
A whole month passed and they became best friends. Gray and Natsu were always around Lucy guarding and protecting her. When they were training, she used to watch them on the benches. Sometimes she brings them water and towels.
Gray knew Lucy missed her mother and is still hoping she comes back every day. He also knew Natsu missed his scarf. Sometimes he would notice Natsu staring at the scarf around Lucy's neck who never took it off with longing. But he didn't ask for it back. Gray was pissed at this point.
Then he got an idea. If Natsu gave her something special, he should too. And since he doesn't have anything special on him, he will just have to make something.
After pacing around in his room for hours which was turned upside down looking for something he could give Lucy and found nothing, Gray laid on the bed staring at his ceiling. He stared at the glow in the dark stars stickers he stuck on his ceiling with the help of his father and remembered Lucy told him once she loved stars. With a grin on his face, he went to his desk and searched through the drawers until he found the extra stickers he had.
He hid them inside his jacket and went to Lucy's room. When he opened the door and found it empty, he sighed in relief. He wants it to be a surprise. Maybe she will like it better than Natsu's scarf.
He took a chair and placed it on her bed. The chair wasn't stable so he climbed it carefully and reached out to the ceiling. But it was still out of reach. He stood on his tiptoes slowly but at the same time the door opened which distracted him and that resulted in him falling from the chair. He yelled in pain as he landed on his arm on the floor and heard a crack.
"Oh my god! Gray!" Lucy yelled running to his side, while Natsu laughed his ass off.
"Bahaha did you see that fall!" Natsu laughed slapping his knees.
Lucy ignored him and helped Gray sit up. He groaned in pain tears forming in the corner of his eyes as he tried to move his arm.
"We should call for help. you're hurt!"
At that Natsu straightened and quickly dashed out of the room. Then silver came running in trailed by Natsu. "What happened?"
"I f-fell." Gray whimpered in pain holding his arm.
Silver scanned the room and saw the chair sideways on Lucy's bed and his eyes widened. "You were climbing the chair on top of the bed?!!"
Gray just looked down in embarrassment. No one should know what he was trying to do. Natsu will never let it go.
Silver shook his head and walked over to him. "We will talk about this later. Let's get you to the infirmary first." He said and carried Gray out of Lucy's room.
A few days later, Gray joined Lucy on the benches because of his broken arm. She asked so many times what was he trying to do but he wouldn't answer her. After that, she gave up and made him promise her he won't hurt himself again.
At the end of the third month, Layla arrived. She was in a really bad shape. Silver was furious after he saw her. He crushed and punched and broke things which scared everyone around him. One of the grown-ups quickly took the kids to their rooms.
But Gray knew something big was going on. He sneaked out of his room and quietly went to his father's office. The door was slightly ajar so he could see Layla on one of the couches with a pale face. And Silver standing over her, his face red from anger. Gray never saw his father get this angry before and suddenly he was scared.
"I shouldn't have listened to you!" His father yelled.
Layla sighed. "Silver, please calm down. I'm okay."
"You're okay? You call this okay!! I'll make them regret this."
At that Layla stood up and glared at him. "No! If you even think about it I will never forgive you!" She suddenly started coughing violently.
"Layla!" Silver gasped and quickly held her before her legs buckled under her. Gray's eyes widened as he saw her hand was covered in blood as she wiped her mouth. She was coughing up blood.
What the hell happened?
"Gray?" He heard a whisper behind him and he spun around to find Natsu and Lucy crouched to the wall across him. He quickly shut the door and pressed his back against it. Lucy should not be here. She can't see her mother like that.
Natsu took Lucy's hand and walked over to him. He sent him a glare. "Why did sneak out without us traitor!"
Gray was panicking now. His eyes were wide and he was breathing hard. Lucy shouldn't be here. She shouldn't be here. She can't be here.
"We have to go before they see us." He whispered to them.
"What? No way we just got here!" Natsu protested holding his ground.
Gray looked at Natsu desperately hoping he would catch it. "They're arguing now and in a really bad mood we don't want to get caught!"
Lucy was quiet staring at the door. He groaned at Natsu's stubbornness and grabbed Lucy's hand but she pulled away.
Gray looked at her with wide eyes. "Lucy?"
"Why are you blocking the door." She asked quietly.
"Uh…I wasn't—I was just—" Gray looked at Natsu for help.
Natsu finally understood and took Lucy's hand and pulled her along with him.
"Natus!" She yelled. "Let me go!" She tried to pull away from him but he tightened his grip and pulled her behind him and left with her. Gray sighed in relief and slumped against the door.
Suddenly he fell on his back as the door opened and his father stood over him. "Uh oh."
A few minutes passed as Gray waited for Lucy to process everything. He told her all the truth now. Well, most of it anyways. He still has to tell her the real reason her mother died. And the reason his father disappeared. The reason why she doesn't remember anything about them.
"I still can't believe my mother was an undercover agent like you and Natsu." She whispered wrapping her arms around herself.
"She was one of the best. Everyone loved her and looked up to her." Gray smiled.
Lucy took a deep breath and nodded. "Even around here, she was adored by the servants and cooks. Tell me the rest Gray please, I need to know all of it."
Gray hesitated but she seemed to take this better than he thought. Besides she deserves to know all of it. He swallowed hard. This might be a blow to her but it's her right to know.
"They injected your mother with a virus." He said slowly. "She died of sickness as you knew. But it was injected in her when she went after them."
Lucy's hand flew to her mouth horrified. "Why did they do this to her?"
"They wanted to send her as a warning if anyone tried to do the same." He said and remembered his stupid father didn't give a shit of their warning and still went after them to revenge Layla.
"Who are they?" She whispered as a tear slid along her cheek.
Gray stared ahead pressing his lips. "I don't know. The higher up wouldn't tell us so we don't make the same mistake." his hands clenched in anger. He's so angry at his father. He wants to punch him in the face. He wants to yell at him for being so stupid, so blinded. He wants to beat the crap out of him.
Lucy leaned closer and placed her hand atop his. "That's why your father disappeared." She whispered.
He nodded. "But I will know and once I know, I will find my father and beat that old man to a pulp."
Lucy smiled softly nodding. "I'll help you."
"No." Gray pulled his hand away standing up "That's why Natsu didn't want you to know."
She stood up as well. "Know what? about my past? What's so wrong about it huh? I believed all these years my mother died because she was sick but it turned out she was murdered!"
"She was si—"
"They made her sick!" She suddenly yelled.
Gray stopped and looked at her with wide eyes.
Lucy dropped her hands at her side glaring at him. "They murdered my mom, and My memories were wiped! All of you had no right to keep this from me. I had a right to know about all of it!"
"Lucy—"
"And stupid Natsu didn't want me to know my right—"
"Lucy—"
"—To know about my past! That was my life—"
Gray gripped her shoulders and shook her. "Lucy!!"
She stopped and stared at him with angry eyes. Her eyes were filled with tears threatening to fall.
He sighed. "Natsu is just scared."
"Scared of what?"
He dropped his hand and gestured toward the chair. She sat and crossed her arms waiting for him.
He took a deep breath running a hand through his hair. Maybe this was a bad idea. Natsu will probably kill him after this. But they were deep into this, there's no turning back. Besides with how she's looking at him right now, she will probably beat the truth out of him.
He remembered when she stayed with them at the organization during that time. Whenever he and Natsu got on her nerves, she would kick them in the face while yelling 'Lucy kick'. Her kick really hurt tho that they tried to avoid it as much as possible.
"Natsu met someone in the organization. We were in high school at the time and she was a late recruit. They became partners and went on missions together. Natsu refused at first to bring her to real dangerous missions. So he took her to the harmless ones only. Until you know, Sting…" At the mention of his name, he saw pain and regret shine through her eyes.
"When Sting knew about Lisanna, He threatened and taunted Natsu that he would kill her and torture her. They had bad blood between them and Natsu always tried to bust their circle but failed every time. Until one night he had a lead on them and went after them. Of course, Lisanna wanted to go with him but he refused."
He remembered that night so well like it happened yesterday. Lisanna was his friend too, but she was everything to Natsu. He swallowed hard. "Lisanna didn't listen to Natsu and went after him, but Sting found her first. He took her and—he….tortured her."
Lucy gasped.
"After Natsu arrived there, Lisanna all beat up with Sting standing over her holding her to a cliff."
Lucy's eyes were wide in shock.
"And then he dropped her. Natsu jumped after her after attaching himself to rope…but he—he didn't make it. He also hit the ground hard because he didn't secure the rope well because he was panicking. So he was injured badly. After that Sting fled away."
"I arrived at the scene late and we took Natsu to the hospital. He stayed in a coma for a whole year. And when he woke up, he left the organization without a word. Everyone knew of his story and didn't dare try to track him down. We all knew he needed space for what happened. But I still tracked him down and found him. We stayed in contact for a while until he was ready to come back for good. He only accepted this mission because he knew Sting was behind it." He finished.
Lucy's heart squeezed. "And he pretended he didn't know me as you did."
Gray bit his lips. "He didn't pretend."
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
"They wiped his memory of you and your mother like they did to you."
Her eyes widened in shock. "But why? Why didn't they wipe—"
"My memory?"
She nodded.
He stared at his hands. "Natsu was a hot-headed idiot and your mother knew when she takes you away from us, Natsu will go after you and nothing will stop him. So she wiped your memory of him and wiped his memory of you. But for me, I was always a reasonable boy even when I was a kid. And your mom convinced me that you will be safer if you go back to your normal life. She asked me to look after you all these years but never show you my world."
He then looked up and took her hand with a sad smile. "That's why Natsu's scared that the same will happen to you."
Lucy looked confused. "But I don't work there like Lisanna."
"The organization will reach out to you and ask you to join them."
"W-What?"
Gray sighed. Natsu will defiantly kill him now. "They want to take you in and train you until you become one of us. Like your mother."
"Why?" She echoed.
Gray stood up as the sun rose higher turning into a glaring yellow. "Because it was in your mother's will." He said as he stared at Natsu's figure a few feet behind Lucy.
Lucy followed his gaze turning around and saw Natsu still in his pajamas and messy hair. He walked up to them slowly staring at Gray.
"Natsu," She whispered.
He approached her and took off the jacket she was wearing throwing it on the ground. "Natsu, what are you doing—" He grabbed her hand and dragged her inside with him all the way she was trying to stop him.
Gray rubbed his eyes suddenly tired and slumped back on the chair. Yep, he was dead.
Natsu pulled Lucy inside and all the way to her room. He got in and closed the door behind him. Lucy crossed her arms and turned around giving him her back.
She heard him let out a deep sigh and mutter a curse. She just lifted her chin facing her door. Then she felt his big hands on her shoulders as he turned her around.
He leaned close staring into her eyes. "You're not going to join."
Lucy frowned pulling away from him. "I just learned that my memory was wiped. The real reason my mother died. My whole life has been a lie and you're thinking about this!"
Then she threw her arms out. "And they wiped your memories too! How are you okay with this!"
Natsu shook his head. "I'm not Luce and I will give them a piece of my mind for what they did. But the important thing is you don't join."
Lucy crossed her arms. "Why? Because you think I'm weak?"
"No, because I can't lose you too." He said quietly his voice full of sorrow and Lucy remembered Lisanna.
She walked closer to him taking his hand. "Natsu, You won't lose me. Maybe this is my destiny. Maybe I was meant to be like you. Fight beside you."
He pulled away backing up. "You are not fighting beside me."
"Then maybe I should fight along with Gray." She said quietly. Her lips quivered as her tears threatened to fall.
Natsu's eyes darkened. "What does that mean?"
Lucy turned around quickly as a tear slid along her cheek. "It means I'm joining the organization." She whispered opening the door and walked out.
A/N: sooooo what do you think? Do you guys want more flashbacks? I'll update the next chapter soon.
Thank you for reading!