Chapter Twenty-Six

"Lu?" Levy's voice was soft, barely over a whisper. Lucy stared at the woman across the hall from her. The woman was a little taller than her, her golden blonde hair piled up on her head. Her eyes were watering as she held her hands over her mouth similar to how Lucy had her hands over hers. She dropped her hands and took a hesitant step forward. It broke the spell over the woman and she dropped her hands and ran forward.

"My little star!" Lucy felt her mother's body encompass her at the same time as her smell hit her. Roses and lilacs and something she could only call as night air. She felt her tears run down her face as she ran her hands up and down her mother's back. She took a deep breath and pushed her mother away even though it hurt. She searched her mother's face.

"You're real. This is real?"

"Yes. Oh…" Her mother cupped her face and kissed her forehead. Lucy smiled and she turned.

"Natsu!" He was staring, his face mirroring her own—tears tracking down his face. She felt her heart twist and she held her left hand out and he stepped around the children and walked over slowly. Her mother was stiff but she didn't move away when Natsu touched her hand. She entwined her fingers with his and pulled him closer. She looked from him to her mother.

"Mama, this is Natsu."

"Hello Lucy's mom." He said and met her hard stare. Her brown eyes were so like Lucy's it was unreal. She also had several of the same smells within her scent.

"Layla. Her name is Layla." Lucy laughed and she smiled at him before looking at her mother. "And she's here."

Her voice cracked and Natsu immediately turned and buried his nose in her hair and growled softly. She shivered but felt herself start to calm down a little. After a few seconds he turned his head, his nose brushing the top of her ear. "Your mother is here. And she is safe and alive. Deep even breathing."

"Natsu…"

"It's okay." He nuzzled her and she nuzzled back. The kids were giggling even as Erza and Levy tried to stop them. Gajeel was eyeing the pair stiffly. Layla barely reacted as she registered that the two were interacting so intimately. Lucy nodded and pulled back and smiled tearfully at him. He smiled brightly and tilted his head towards her mother.

"Mama, I…"

"Your father is not going to believe this."

"Father is here?" Lucy asked, her mouth falling open. Natsu watched as her mother nodded and he smelt the tension rising off of her. "He's the hairy man the kids were talking about…and it's why the people upstairs were so hateful."

"They're just scared." Layla stated and Lucy rolled her eyes.

"Mother, fear only causes problems. And these people have done nothing but try to help."

"Let's go talk to your father. Perhaps he'll have an idea on how to handle this." Layla said and pulled back and looked over her shoulder. She turned back and looked at Lucy. But when she saw Lucy's expression she tensed. "My little star…what happened…it's in the past."

"Maybe, but it doesn't mean I've forgiven him. Or trust his judgement Mama." Lucy shook her head. She dropped her arm from her mother's arm. "It's been two years and I've thought for most of it he and you were gone. Now your both alive and I have to…"

She inhaled and stopped herself and thought it through. She felt Natsu's hand draw lazy circles on her back. Comforting her. Reminding her she wasn't alone. "I promised that I would do everything I could to help the humans on this station. If that means talking with father…fine. Let's talk to him."

Her mother nodded, understanding flaring in her eyes. "Come on. I'll take you to him."

"Ok. Levy, Gajeel, Erza, stay here. Maybe teach the kids bird calls?" Lucy said and Levy and Erza nodded while Gajeel's brows pulled together. She tugged on Natsu's hand and took a step forward before her mother cleared her throat.

"Lucy, dear. Your father won't speak with him around."

"Mama!"

"Its okay Luce." Natsu pulled his fingers free and smiled brightly at her. "I'll stay here and learn these bird calls too."

Lucy wanted to scream. The smile didn't reach his eyes. His tone was off. She bit her lip and looked from him to her mother and then at her friends. Levy and Erza shrugged and she looked at Natsu.

"AI?"

"Yes Lucy? How can I assist?" The voice made Layla jump. She turned and looked around and stared at her daughter in confusion.

"Do you have a…uh…growlsskleen?"

"Does this suffice?" A floor tile opened and a small pedestal rose up. Lucy sighed when she saw the tablet that Natsu had shown her and Levy in the Magi-Hover.

"Yes, thank you." She took it as the pedestal receded. She tapped on it and handed it to Natsu. His brows drew down and then he nodded.

"I'll show them how to record these calls for future reference." He said and stepped away and headed for Levy. He handed over the tablet and the bluenette's eyes scanned it. Lucy was already walking away with her mother.

"Is that a good idea?" Erza asked and Levy sighed.

"Lucy does't think so." She crossed her arms and looked at Erza. "Why else would she want us to teach the bird calls."

"I know but…"

"Natsu, it's been sixty seconds. Be quiet." Levy said and the pinkette immediately disappeared down the hallway. Gajeel shook his head.

"It was Lucy's idea to have him wait to follow."

"The hairy man isn't gonna be happy." A boy said and looked at Levy. She looked down at him.

"Well Lucy won't be happy if he gets mad at her. And my money is that her being angry is more terrifying than him being mad."

"She's scarier than the hair man? Whoa!" The older girl said and shook her head. "That's insane."

"She's had to be scary to survive." Erza said and sat down on the floor. The kids all immediately sat down. Gajeel stood beside Levy and picked up the tablet. She puffed up until he looked at her with widened eyes.

"She wrote her message in Interstellar Guild?"

"I told you, Natsu was teaching us." She shrugged and looked at Erza. Gajeel got quiet and listened as Erza explained several bird calls. And then explained how they'd used the calls as signals while evading the militants and raiders. He grinned. Lucy wasn't wanting to record the sounds for historical references. She was trying to recruit the children to their side by teaching them what they knew.

"Lucy." Layla stopped in front of a large set of windows and looked up and down the hallway and then at her daughter.

"Mama, I promise to be calm unless he…"

"Why are you wearing a Scalut?"

"How do you know what I'm wearing?" Lucy asked as her mother's eyes widened for a second and she lifted her right hand to her mouth and bit on her thumb's nail. "Mama?"

"It's complicated Lucy." Her mother finally said and she lowered her hand. "Trust me. For now, silence is better than nothing. But why are you wearing that?"

"Natsu says I'm his growlkin." She said, choosing honesty even those her mother's lack of it was bothering her. Hurting her even.

"And do you think he is yours?" Lucy shifted and crossed her arms over her chest.

"For now, silence is better than nothing. If you want the truth, share yours Mama."

"Lucy!"

"No!" Lucy shouted and her mother reared back instinctively. Lucy put her hands on her hips and shook her head. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Natsu's face appeared in front of her and she felt the muscles in her shoulders relax. She thought of his smile and felt her tension start to release. She opened her eyes. "Mama, if you are going to guard your secrets, you need to respect that I will guard mine. If you want the truth, then you need to be truthful as well."

"It's complicated little star."

"Mother…Draconics were sent to Earth by Mard Geer to destroy us. We passed complicated over two years ago." Lucy saw her mother lose all color in her face. "You know that name?"

"We need to talk to your father. Now." Layla grabbed Lucy by the hand and they headed off down the hall again. Lucy looked over her shoulder and saw a flash of pink and felt better knowing he was following them. Finally they stopped at the end of the hall and she saw twin doors. Layla pushed on the doors and they opened slowly. All the noise on the other side stopped as they stepped in. Lucy felt several sets of eyes bore into her. She held her head high, refusing to lower under their scrutiny.

At the end of the room at a set of tables pushed together were several men, and one was standing with his back to them. His hair was long, passed his shoulders, and he held his hands behind his back. His intimidation pose. She felt herself tense thinking that.

"Jude?"

"Yes Layla?" Lucy hated the shiver of dread that ran down her back as he spoke. He didn't even bother to turn around. And the old embers of annoyance and anger sparked within her.

"It's rude not to look at the person speaking to you. Or so I was raised to believe." Lucy snarked and everyone whipped their heads around. Jude straightened and stiffened. Layla closed her eyes before she looked at her daughter.

"Little Star, that was incredibly rude."

"No more so than him giving us his back." Lucy stated coldly. Her father slowly turned around and looked from his wife to her and back. He took in the scalut and his expression darkened.

"What are you wearing?"

"Dragis clothing." Lucy bit out, not wanting to explain what the scalut was but not wanting to outright lie. She wasn't ashamed of the suit. SHe wondered if her mother would correct her. Layla didn't make a sound.

"What the hell is a Dragis?"

"A race of people from Edolas. Another world that was overrun by Draconics...dragonoids as we called them. They're the main group of warriors who go down and try to wipe out the Draconics and save humans."

"And you choose to wear their clothing why?"

"Because it can deflect Draconic claws better than anything else I had handy." She crossed her arms over her chest. The suit was gray with hints of pink and red at her feet. Natsu wasn't close enough and she was bothered by that.

"Why would you be close enough to those monsters to need that suit?" Her father demanded to know and took a step closer. She raised an eyebrow and dropped her hands to her hips.

"Because I've been down there, for two years; trying to keep myself and the other girls of my dorm alive. Fighting off raiders and militants on a regular basis."

"You shouldn't be fighting."

"We all fought!" Lucy shouted over his outrage and he jerked back. "Those that didn't' died. I still hear their screams."

Layla gasped and covered her mouth. Lucy took a deep breath. "This was a mistake. I should have listened to my gut."

"Lucky Lucy Heartfilia, don't turn your back on me." Jude shouted as she turned and started walking towards the doors. She froze, her breathing increasing. She slowly turned and looked at him.

"I learned from the best father." She stated and Layla inhaled sharply. Judge was sputtering in outrage. "You and your little band of ass-kissers in here only encourage fear of the people on this Station that only want to help us. You think what money and power you had before means something. It doesn't. Your just a bully. You've always been a bully."

"I am your father!"

"Then act like it!" Lucy shouted and stomped her foot. Her mother clutched at the neck of her sweater. Her father's gaze, surprisingly lowered. People around them murmured quietly. Taking in the tension and shifting dynamics.

"Lucy?" Natsu's voice was on the other side of the door. At his growl; which translated to her name; everyone shifted uneasily. Her father looked at her confused.

"Natsu, I'm fine. I'm coming out." She shouted. She looked at her mother and shrugged. "I'm sorry Mama. I am. But I made a promise before I saw you again. I promised to try and help the humans on this station. And I promised to help the people who call this Guild Station home, to save Earth and get us back there. If you want to talk to me; you'll have to come to the upper decks."

"Lucy…"

"Mama…" Lucy smiled sadly at her mother. "At least I know."

"Know what?" Jude asked stiffly.

"That my parents didn't die. I was one of the lucky ones." She turned and pushed on the door and Natsu stood there. Everyone was murmuring as they took in his pink hair and pink and red scales that were shining under the lights in the room and hallway.

"Luce?"

"Let's go back to the others. Levy needs to meet Droy and we need to talk with the General about planning our next trip back to the surface."

"O…Okay." He nodded and turned to let her walk by him. As she stepped equal with him, her left hand found his right and she grabbed it. She entwined her fingers with his and just kept walking. He followed, his expression confused. He looked over his shoulder and saw tears on her mother's cheeks which hurt him. His eyes drifted to the side and he thought he saw tears in her father's eyes before he turned away. He turned away and looked at the back of Lucy's head as she led the way back to the others.

As they neared the children he stopped and cupped her chin and made her look at him. "Are you okay?"

"No." She shook her head. "There's a lot of…issues with my father. I thought I'd gotten over it and forgiven him because of the Draconics but when I saw him…I knew I hadn't. I'd just hoped enough that I had; that I started to believe it."

"I'm sorry." His hand slide up her cheek and cupped the back of her head and pulled her closer. He inhaled as his forehead rested on hers. He wished he could take the pain from her. And her anger.

"Natsu?"

"Yeah?" He opened his eyes and stared at the shining brown orbs that looked up at him. He saw the trust swirling with the pain and anger in the warm depths.

"Thank you." She rose to her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his and just as quickly as she did it; she pulled back and walked toward the lift hall. Leaving him standing there confused. He tilted his head and watched her walk away. He shook his head and took a step but stopped and looked back. He met Layla's gaze and he swallowed hard. She was staring at him hard again. He slowly backed away, not turning his back on her. But as he neared the group, he tried to understand what Lucy had just done. What did touching lips mean to humans?!