Gray couldn't stop thinking about that snowflake shaped birthmark he had seen on Ciel's foot. He also couldn't stop thinking about how Ciel looked and acted similar to both him and his wife. As he thought more about it, he theorized something but he was unsure about it.
"Is everything alright dear?" Juvia asked at the dinner table. "You've hardly had a bite to eat. Is something wrong with the roast?"
"No honey I'm just thinking about something."
"What is it?"
"Well... It's about that kid Ciel."
"What about him? He didn't cause you any trouble the other day did he?"
"No but...Did you ever notice that his eyes are just like yours?"
"What?"
"It's true. Same color, same shape, he even has that same cute little sparkle that I see in yours."
"Well I can't say I have."
"And another thing, did you ever notice that he kind of looks like me when I was a kid?"
"Hmm...Now that you mention it he does remind me a lot of you."
"Juvia."
"Yes?"
"I have a theory about Ciel. I don't really think this is valid and I'm pretty sure I'm wrong on this but it's been in my mind for almost two days."
"What's this theory you have about him?"
"It's that he...He might be Winter."
"What?" She said not sure that she had heard him correctly. "You think he's our son?"
"I know it's crazy but there are these similarities I keep noticing in his looks and his personality."
"It could be a coincidence."
"That's what I thought until I saw his birthmark."
"What birthmark?"
"He has a birthmark on his left foot and it's in the shape of a snowflake just like Winter had."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive and he's eight years old, that's exactly how old Winter would be right now."
"Gray it could still be just a coincidence."
"I know and I'm 99 percent of me thinks it is but one small percentage of me thinks it might be him."
"What do you think we should do?"
"Are you still working with that detective?"
"Yes."
"I want to talk to him about investigating Ciel and his family."
"I don't know if he can do that but I'm supposed to meet with him tomorrow so you can come with me to talk to him about it."
So the next day Gray and Juvia went to Jellal's office where he proposed his idea to the detective.
"You think that this boy is your missing son?" Jellal said looking at photograph of Ciel.
"Possibly." Gray said.
"Do you have any evidence that supports your theory?"
Gray placed two photographs on Jellal's desk. One was of Gray when he was eight and the other was of Winter when he was a newborn in the hospital which showed the birthmark on his tiny left foot. Jellal examined the pictures carefully.
"There is a resemblance." Jellal said. "And you're positive that this boy has the exact same birthmark in the exact same place as your son?"
"Yes."
"Who are his parents?"
"Giles and Mary Hughes." Juvia said.
"Have you ever met them?"
"No, I've only talked to his mother over the phone."
"Is it possible that Ciel is adopted? Has he ever mentioned it?"
"Not to my knowledge."
"And on the night your son was taken was anything else stolen? Anything specific? Jewelry? Clothes?"
"No." Gray said.
"Yes, Gray remember." Juvia said. "They also took a blue baby blanket that I made for him and a toy penguin that you had given him."
"Anything else?" Jellal asked.
"No."
Jellal thought for a minute. This was going to be one very steep hill he was going down.
"Okay right now there's not much I can do except maybe a background check on his parents. In the meantime if you two truly believe that he could be your son try to find more evidence or probable cause."
"Like what?" Gray asked.
"Well...Does he show any signs of child abuse? Parental neglect? Unfit living conditions?"
"No."
"Actually." Juvia said. "I think he might be getting abused. I don't know for sure but he seems absolutely terrified of his parents."
"Unfortunately that's not enough for probable cause." Jellal said. "You're his teacher right?"
"Yes."
"Mrs. Fullbuster I recommend that you keep a close eye on him and look for other signs of abuse. Like bruises, scars, malnourishment, anything that would indicate the subject but do not tell him about any of this. Him, his parents, or anyone else at least not until we have more evidence."
"Is there anyway we could get a blood test?"
"Not without probable cause. If I find something in the parents background then we may have a case here."
"What should we do til then?" Gray asked.
"As I said, just go about your daily business but watch for signs of abuse and if you find any evidence bring it to me immediately."
"We will."
Meanwhile Natsu was driving back home from work and from picking Nashi up from school.
"I'm very proud of you Nashi." He told his daughter. "The grades on your report card are great."
"Really Daddy?"
"Yep and because you've been doing so well Daddy has a little surprise for you."
"What is it?! What is it?!" She said excitedly.
He handed Nashi a small box with holes in it. She opened the box and let out a squeal of joy when she saw that inside that little box was a tiny blue kitten.
"Now I know he's not a puppy like Plue but he's just as playful and sweet as Plue. Do you like him?"
"I love him! He's so cute!"
When they arrived home Nashi rushed inside the house with the kitten in her arms.
"Mommy look what Daddy gave me!"
"Oh...He got you a pet did he?" Touka said glaring at her husband.
"Uh-huh. Isn't he cute?"
"Nashi would you mind going to your room for a minute so I may talk with your father?"
"Why?"
"Sweetheart why don't you show your kitty your room and your toys. He might like them." Natsu said.
"Okay!"
Nashi ran upstairs to her room.
"You got her a cat?" Touka said to Natsu getting angry.
"You said I could get her pet as long as it wasn't a dog."
"Well I thought a bird or a fish would be your next option. You should have told me."
"I'm sorry."
"She's not keeping that thing! Tomorrow you'll take it back."
"I can't do that. It would break her heart."
"You should have thought about that before you gave her a cat without telling me. I'm not taking care of that thing."
"You won't. I will."
"This discussion is over, you're taking it back tomorrow."
"No I'm not."
"What did you say?"
"You said that she could have a pet as long as it wasn't a dog. It's not my fault that you weren't specific. Now Nashi has been doing real well in school and she's really well behaved and-"
But he was cut off by Touka punching him right across the face.
"You bastard!" She screamed.
"Touka please don't!"
"You brought this on yourself!" She threw a large book with a hard cover at him.
"What are you doing?! Ow! You're crazy!"
"You make me crazy!"
She grabbed a frying pan and started hitting him repeatedly. Natsu didn't do anything except hold his arms around his head, waiting for his wife to stop. Little Nashi on the other hand, heard the ruckus and went downstairs to see what was happening.
"Stop it Mommy! Stop hurting Daddy!" She screamed.
"Don't talk to me like that! I'm your mother! Now go back to your room!" Touka snapped before turning back to beat Natsu.
"Mommy no! Stop it!" She grabbed hold of her mother's shirt and pulled on it.
Touka stop beating Natsu and in one swift move she smacked Nashi in the face, knocking her down.
"No!" Natsu shouted. Enraged he grabbed hold of his wife and jerked her away from their daughter. "Don't you ever hit her! Ever! Do you hear me?!"
"Get off of me!"
They struggled with each other until they both toppled out the window.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Nashi screamed in tears.
