AN:

Hey guys, sorry for the ridiculous wait. IDK If you've checked the author note I left or not but in case you didn't check for the updates. I'm sorry this one took so long. I got sick messed me up on my release timing pretty bad. I made a promise to make it up to you by making the chapter longer and longer I did... brace yourself it's more than double.

Well imma let you guys enjoy the read and stop texting your ear off! Have fun guys :D

Under the sea, Jude growled in anger, "What do you mean none of you can find her?! Search the seven seas again dammit!" he roared causing the Mermaids, Mermen and underwater wildlife to jolt away. As they left, they could still hear his thundering voice rippling through the sea causing massive waves of destruction, "Find her!" He repeated three times his voice steadily rising with each command.

Jude was steaming mad, as he grabbed his trident beside him, he smashed it into the sandy sea floor, "Heed my call!" he growled lowly. He could only think of one thing just one thing that explained why none of them could find her! Above the surface, it grew cloudy and loud thunder and lightning strikes lit up the dull sky. It wasn't long before he could hear loud plopping drips of the rainstorm he'd summoned.

If she had indeed discovered her mother's ability to turn human and retreated to the human world above the sea the moment this water touched her, he would know. After that… he would drag her back by any means necessary!

~oooOOOooo~

Kylie gave the apartment a long dull stare, the apartment was small and needed some obvious love. The place had at least three inches of dust coating everything, randomly discarded trash, dead bugs and even a decayed rat. Kylie spun around on her heels at the door, "Next!" she said annoyed that anyone could be so filthy.

Lucy beamed starry-eyed, "I'll take it!" she says at the same time. Kylie and her look at each other both of them equally confused… even Mary looked confused!

"Wha… Why in the world would you want this one?!" Kylie and Mary screeched out flabbergasted by Lucy's choice in apartments.

Lucy chuckled with a shrug, "I don't know I just like it is all besides I don't think it'll look half bad after a good clean." She told them not to startled as Nina's arm rounded her shoulder.

Nina laughed, "I completely agree! I really like your style, Lucy, I never expected you fall for an old-style place like this, but even I gotta admit after some good old TLC I'm sure this place will look as good as new." She commented while nodding in approval of Lucy's tastes.

Kylie crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes, "Pfft, speak for yourself I've gotta go to a meeting with the board later." She informed them for the third time today.

"Aw, the heart stopper afraid of a little elbow grease?" Nina teased with a sly smirk, "Besides this is gonna be Lucy's apartment, not yours what right do you have to question my Protégé's exquisite taste?" she continued holding up a fist to Lucy. To which Lucy chuckled colliding her own fist with Nina's both flashing equally sly grins.

Kylie's eyes swept over the apartment again, 'It would look nice.' She supposed. Resting a hand to her hip while her free one came up to rub at the back of her neck, "Ugh, fine would you just shut up you're giving me a headache and would you please stop calling me that!" She groaned. Actually, it wasn't her that was giving her a headache but the amount of cleaning she knew they would have to do to help Lucy get the place livable!

Nina's lips pulled back further, her expression seductive and dirty as she broke away from Lucy to grab hold of Kylie's chin, "Only if you make me!~" she winked. Nina bit back a laugh at how red Kylie's face became settling her expression with a look of amusement. Nina turns to the landlady, "She'll be taking it!" she tells the gloomy older woman with a small smile.

The woman just nodded and stepped out to get the necessary forms, "She looks so sad." They heard Lucy say.

Kylie nodded her eyes everted to look out the filthy window, "I heard those people talking downstairs saying that her husband passed away recently." She told them softly. Her eyes slowly but not so discreetly shifting towards Nina as she remembered the accident the younger woman had been in three years ago on her motorcycle. As the horrible memories of that day began collecting within her mind her eyes started to water, Kylie turned on her heels, "I'm gonna go get some air it's too dusty in here. I'll go grab some supplies from the store for us to use." She said not leaving any time for a response as she left.

~oooOOOooo~

Lucy stared out the dirty window of her apartment, rain dripped from the sky in fury as thunder and lightning danced through the skies with sonic claps so loud it made the world shake beneath her feet. The door opened and Kylie entered the apartment completely soaked, "What took you so long?" Nina questioned in concern as she unconsciously shrugged off her hoody.

Lucy stared at all the bags curiously, Kylie rolled her eyes, "Are you kidding? You can't see the rain drowning everyone out there?" she replied sarcastically. Jolting a little when she felt something warm drop over her shoulders, Kylie blushed a little before responding, "Thanks."

Nina resisted the urge to say anything more, not missing the redness around her eyes signaling that Kylie had probably been crying. Nina sighed, 'She gets so emotional sometimes.' She thought as she began to sift through the bags. "Hey, Lucy," Nina started as she approached her, the older woman held something out to her, putting a plastic bucket filled with a few things on her lap, "Here start by filling this bucket up with water in the tub and add some of this lemon scented cleaner to the water." She continued.

Lucy nodded looking at the buckets warily... what was she going to do? Even just a drop of water would cause the transformation to become apparent… even though they would most likely take it as an allergic reaction much like Natsu and his parents had, "Something wrong Lucy?" Mary questioned rediverting Nina's attention to Lucy.

Lucy blush scratching her cheek lightly in thought. She couldn't tell them the truth no matter how much she wanted too but she had to say something. "I-It's just… I'm kind of…allergic to water." She lied.

Nina looked on in disbelief, "Bullshit!" she called out grabbing hold of her very sweaty drink lightly tapping it to Lucy's exposed skin on her leg, "I knew there was no way you were aller…" Nina's eyes grew wide as the skin where the water hit began to turn a dark pink and what looked like hives began to form on her leg. Nina dropped the bottle immediately with a surprised yelp as she rushed away to get a towel to get rid of the remaining liquid on her skin.

When this was done Nina let loose an exaggerated sigh, "Oh… my god." Mary said her eyes nearly popping out of her sockets. Mary rushed over touching Lucy's leg inspecting it, "How in the hell are you alive?! Our bodies are made up of anywhere from fifty to sixty-five percent water!" she questioned in amazement and confusion.

Kylie equally as surprised and shocked just stared… her mouth gaping at the clear allergic reaction that was present on Lucy's upper thigh. "I'm kind of glad I bought cleaning gloves now." Kylie mindlessly said as she tried to shake off the shock.

"Alright, we should get this done." Nina continued grabbing the bucket from Lucy to do what she'd asked her to do while redirecting the blonde to get a pair of said gloves. It took them several hours to make it presentable, and in that time, Kylie had to leave to attend her meeting. The Nina and Mary beamed finally finished, the two cracked open a can of soda, both tapping them together in triumph before taking a huge sip.

Lucy pulled off her gloves, the unopened can of soda sitting beside her as she leans back relaxing against the wall closest to the window. Rainwater trickled down the closed window washing off some of the outside grime. Her forehead rested against the glass, "Geez it's raining cats and dogs today!" Mary commented as she and Nina shuffled their way near Lucy.

Lucy merely stared a frown on her face, Nina lightly nudged her with her shoulder to get her attention, "Hey, you okay?" she asked focusing all her attention to Lucy.

"My fathers mad at me." She muttered as she continued to observe the raging rain bands that flowed across the clear glass that separated her from the water.

Mary smiled lightly, "I'm sure he's not. You're at that age where you just had to step out on your own." She told Lucy.

"Was he physically abusive?" Nina asked and seconds later Mary's arm swiftly whiplashed back into her older sisters' stomach. Nina turned to her hand slapping the ground hard, "What was that for?!" she growled.

Mary's eyes shifted discreetly from her older sister to Lucy and back again. "No, but he didn't have to be," Lucy said quietly collecting both of there attention. Mary went to say something, but Nina's hand touched her shoulder and she stopped. The look in her eyes… looked broken. It was only there for a moment as she stares out at the rain, but once she turned and looked back at them slightly any trace of it was completely gone.

"Hey, don't worry about him. We won't let him near you." Nina comforted… too bad she didn't quite understand the mind game that was currently being played. Until this rain let up she was little more than a bird in a cage. So much for finally getting freedom... right? Even now with her being so far away… with her striking out on her own… he was still trying to control her. She had little doubt that if she took even so much as a step outside now and was hit with even a single drop of water that it would alert him. If she knew him like she was sure she did his next move once he knew her location would be to retrieve her. He would likely cause a calamity to do such a task.

A tear ran down her face at an angle that neither girl could see, it was well covered by the bright illuminating smile she cast.

~oooOOOooo~

Natsu sat at a bar sipping on a beer, his white scarf loosely hung around his neck, but tightly enough so it hid the scar on his neck. A silly means of keeping people from asking about a subject he'd rather not talk about. Happy sat on his lap, his front paws propped on the bar as the bar's owner his cousin's father placed a small plate in front of the small cat with cut up fresh fish.

The older man laughed as Happy literally dove into the fish, "You never change do ya?" he questioned eyeing the cat and the smaller cone Natsu had put on the small kit. "So how long till the poor guy can get that thing off?" he asked Natsu curiously as he returned to dried newly washed shot glasses while his bar attendants worked diligently to make up drinks for various other customers.

Natsu finished off the shot the man had given him earlier, "Dunno, Doc said it depended on him leaving his stitches alone. He's got another appointment to see the Doctor in three days though." He explained as he slid the small glass towards two other empty ones.

The man nodded eyeing the boy warily, "And you, are you sure you're alright?" he questioned eyeing the growing number of glasses. He'd never seen the young man drink so much at least not at his bar… It was evident that the alcohol was doing its job though, a slight red hue was steadily taking over his whole face and a little down the young man's neck.

Natsu stared down at the table, "Can I get another shot?" he asked. The older man agreed but warned him that it would be his last one. As the man stood behind the bar making said drink Natsu spoke softly and sadly, "Is it pitiful to wait for someone?"

The older man stopped mid pour staring down at Natsu with a curious expression, even the kit on his lap could sense his distress as he stopped eating his fish to turn and face his owner while lightly patting his cheek with his paw to get his attention. "A woman?" the man questioned as he returned to the drink, Natsu merely nodded in response, "Do you love her?" he continued.

Natsu's face went flush, "I-I dunno." He answered honestly. He'd only spoken to her that one time after all… but, "Something inside of me doesn't want to let her go but lately I've been wondering if she was a figment of my imagination." He mumbled feeling a little bit of the effects of being intoxicated.

Finished with the drink the man slid to across the counter to his customer, "How long have you been waiting? A few weeks?" he asked to which Natsu shook his head. The older man took a shot in the dark, "Months," he asked again his jaw-dropping when Natsu shook his head from side to side.

Nastu's face darkened with embarrassment, "It's been thirteen years." He mumbled wanting to duck away when he caught the mans unblinking surprised stare.

After a few more moments the man reached out to him crashing his hand lightly on top of his spiky salmon colored hair, "Natsu my boy… you've got it bad kid." He told him. Taking the towel, he'd been using to dry the shot glasses, he places it on the bar before traveling around it to take a seat beside his brothers' son. The man turned in his seat to face Natsu, "I think you might be in love," he started watching as Natsu's eyes slowly grew wide as he to turned to face the other man, "with this girl."

"M-Metalicana, th-that's not possible! I-I mean I've only met her face to face once!" Natsu replied confused as to how the man had come to this conclusion. It took more than just a few hours of knowing a girl to fall in love… right? Right?

Metalicana sighed running a hand through his long black bangs, mentally cursing Igneel and Grandeeny for wanting to keep the boy's heritage a secret from Natsu all this time. The boy was correct falling in love wasn't so easy… for humans, but when it came to them… there was only one person in the world from the moment of birth that they would be bound to love forever. It was shocking that the boy had already found his soulmate! Some search for years and never crossed them!

"Sometimes kid, that's all it takes." He answered giving the younger man a pat on the back before leaving to allow him time to process. The next time Metalicana turned to check on him, Natsu was gone, the last shot had been polished off, and money laid upon the countertop table placed under the last shot he'd poured him. 'Gah, where'd he go?!' he thought with a jolt, jumping towards the door hoping to find him just outside or down the street when he saw nothing rain accompanying the streets he frowns, 'Dammit nephew!' he cursed.

Somewhere else, Natsu walks aimlessly around the dark streets, Happy occasionally bumping his leg to try and get his attention. He wasn't sure why but though alcohol was supposed to dull the senses… he felt something pulling him, guiding him towards an area of town he never frequented. It really was odd because he could swear, he smelled her…

~oooOOOooo~

Lucy walked around in a black bunny suit, a platter of drinks in her hands as she glided past the tables. Kylie had her benched for the time being saying she needed a bit more training before jumping back onto the stage if she so desired. Lucy's eyebrow twitched in annoyance when someone grabbed her ass again, the man that Kylie had following her around all night made quick work to remove said hand, "Sir, I highly suggest you discontinue your actions. If you continue, I will be forced to permanently ban you from this establishment." He told the man.

The man told him to 'Fuck off.' at his words. If there was one thing about this line of work that they all hated it was that people viewed them as hookers and thought that once they paid, they could do whatever whenever they wanted. "Are you alright?" he asked Lucy watching as she walked up to another table placing down drinks in front of a few gentlemen who were now glaring angrily at the men two tables away from them for touching the girl.

Lucy nodded, "I am, thank you." She whispered back before walking away from the table to clean off another being extremely cautious with anything involving liquids. As she turned on her heels, she glides away from the table being sure to add a little extra space between her and the table where a man continuously tonight grabbed at her ass. It didn't seem to help as the man again went out of his way to cop a feel.

She was surprised though that before her or her bodyguard could react the gentlemen from nearing tables took it upon themselves to stop them, "Can't you read asshole? You can look but not touch! If you want a woman that you can touch up on all you want with no complaints, then go find a hooker down the damn street!" one of the men growled seething mad.

Before the man could fire an argument back her bodyguard grabbed the man who'd touched her dragging him out by the door as he radioed for other guards around the small club to gather the rest of the man's flock and throw them out. The cops were called, and Kylie had to step into the entrance hall with Lucy to make a statement and to request not only an order of protection but also restraining orders.

Kylie frowned, "You alright?" she questioned worriedly.

Lucy's pulled back into a slight smile and she nodded, "Yeah, I just wasn't expecting people to act like that." She told Kylie truthfully. Learning more and more with each passing day that living in the human world was more different then she'd thought.

Kylie sighed, "Listen Lucy, I want you to head home." She said and when Lucy's made a move to continue, "No, buts!" she told her stopping her from arguing. Lucy frowned and nodded heading back to her locker to grab the gear the girls had bought her after finding out about her problem… Lucy put on the gear despite the complaints from most of the people at the tables about her leaving.

Sticking her feet into tall pink rain boots before adding a windbreaker and raincoat to top it off. Grabbing hold of the umbrella Nina had taught her how to use she popped it open just outside the door, waving goodbye to the doorman. Her bodyguard followed behind her on Kylie's orders to ensure her safe return home.

~oooOOOooo~

Meanwhile, Natsu's hair clung to his face as he and Happy stood under the roof of a store. Waiting for the rain to at least die down, but it showed no signs of this… 'This is stupid…' he thought sitting down on the stairs by the storms entrance. He hugged his knees close together, nuzzling his nose against his knees. He felt so tired…

"Natsu?" he heard a voice. His eyes jolted open and his head jerked up to meet familiar brown orbs. "Natsu! What are you doing here?!" she yelled worriedly when she saw that he was so cold that he was physically shaking under her palm. Quickly pulling her hand away when she felt her scales coming back due to the moisture, "C-Come with us. I live nearby!" she told him. Natsu was about to say something but stopped when he noticed a man standing behind her. A surge of jealousy shot through him… and despite him wanting to engage the man in anger he just looked down at the ground and nodded following them aimlessly. Natsu tried to stand away not wanting to invade their space but Lucy seemed insistent on sharing her umbrella with him.