Laxus Natsu and Happy walked down the street together, Gray and Erza wanted to come along but Laxus stopped them. He wanted to ask Natsu questions about Lucy not her team.

Laxus was stopped by reporters. "We've discovered certain clues, but we are not ready to make a statement." Laxus said coolly. Natsu raised an eyebrow at Laxus. This wasn't a side he got to see often. He was cool calm and collected. This Laxus seemed to be used to reporters in his face and following him. Natsu was nervous about it, why were they following them? He really didn't get it. Why was the world going nuts over Lucy's murder. It was horrific not something that should be well in his opinion exploited and sensationalized..Natsu watched a female reporter flirt with Laxus to win new information, "I shouldn't mind being murdered half as much, Mr. Dreyar, if you were the detective seeking clues to my private life."

Laxus's mouth twisted, the flattery not delicate. Reporters had identified Laxus as somewhat aloof, dignified, and formal. Laxus himself found a new importance within himself. As if his life was taking on a new meaning.

When Laxus and Natsu approach the restaurant he held the door open for the kid. Happy and Natsu looked haunted. His heart broke slightly seeing the expression. He hadn't see Natsu ever this down right depressed, and he was pretty torn up when Lisanna died.

"Do you like Italian?" Laxus asked.

Natsu nodded, "get whatever you want it's on me." Natsu looked surprised but nodded. He hadn't been eating really since Lucy was found dead. "I've never eaten here before-"

Laxus pulled out a chair, they were seated on the patio. "It's good. It's called Alessios." Natsu nodded. "Ok kid talk." A light ballad was playing in the background, it kept him calm hearing it. 'It was sweet, would Lucy have liked it?' The sound of a violin and piano kept him grounded.

"Huh?"

"Talk. You're clearly troubled. I know you liked her-"

"He likkkkkkkkkeeedd her." Happy teased tongue rolling a spark appearing in his eyes.

Natsu blushed slightly. "Not like that!"

Laxus stiffened. He took a deep breath, trying to push down an annoying feeling in his stomach over that statement.

"Tell me about Lucy and what you know." He said looking over a menu. Natsu stared at the glass of water in front of him.

"It's hard to believe it's all gone. Late night dinners, drinking in her apartment. We dined at this really neat place when she was given her guild mark. It was a different Italian place, it was called Hippolitas. They make a real good chicken Gabrielle-"

Laxus nodded listening.

"It was just us, she was so happy...we were celebrating putting away that jerk Everlude and the joy we gave his son over that book. And her getting a new spirit. We had no money but we made it work. Somehow she always made it work. She really helped me get my finances in order. We were talking about what other missions we could go on next. Our future as a team. Even in that short time Laxus she had changed from that girl I met in Haregon."

"She had a eager mind. She was always quick to sieze on anything that would improve her mind or her appearance." Happy said. "She was pretty vain." He teared up thinking about the maid costume.

"So what do you think of Magnus and Vincent?"

Natsu shrugged. "I don't like them. Lucy cared about them but not in the way she cared about Happy and I. She said when she ran away she had left them behind for a reason. Vincent struck me as weak person over all. He didn't want to change. Magnus on the other hand. He's just an ass. But Lucy valued them for different reasons. Magnus for the way he looked at the world and the fact she could discuss Socrates in ancient Greek with him, and he was a good writer. She would go to him on advice even though she wrote fiction as opposed to the fact he wrote for that newspaper and non fiction. Vincent.. he meant well and that he was actually funny. She liked that he was willing to at least work and that he put up with Magnus." They had ordered their food, and now we're eating.

Natsu frowned. "How do you live with regrets? The dragon slayer asked. That question stunned Laxus. "What do you mean?" Natsu sighed. "I keep thinking maybe if I asked for more questions like why she kept Magnus at a distance, why she ran away maybe I could have prevented her dying. At the time it didn't matter. She was frustrated but I would make her laugh and we would talk about other things. It didn't seem to matter. But now I feel guilty. I couldn't prevent Lisanna from dying and now I didn't even help my other best friend from dying either." Laxus stared at Natsu. He swallowed. "Natsu I usually don't get involved with crap like this, but Lisanna's death you couldn't have prevented. And neither could you about Lucy. She lied-"

Natsu was about to interrupt. "Natsu. She would have told you in person if she had found you guys she was leaving and still gone back home. She was up to something. Or hiding from something or someone-"

"But I could have helped her!" He grabbed his head, this was frustrating for him, it was hard for him to put his feelings into words. "Why did she lie!? That's not her Laxus! You have to understand!" Laxus stared at the younger mage. "Natsu she did and we'll figure out why." He swallowed he hated saying but, "look you said she was feeling guilty right? Maybe something happened and she didn't want the guild or you guys interfering because of that guilt. Maybe it wasn't something nefarious-"

"That's stupid! We didn't mind! The guild didn't care! She was one of us!"

"You did. I didn't-"

Natsu glared at the older mage. "She was Nakama Laxus. She was a proud member of Fairy Tail. She cared about this guild as much as you do." Laxus glared.

"Come on it's getting late and I have stuff I have to do." Laxus said getting up. "I've got to interview her father." Natsu nodded and got up.

Laxus was seething mad now. He hated trains. "Stupid motion-sickness." He thought to himself stretching out in a compartment as the train lurched into motion. Laxus placed his headphones on his and shut his eyes. Her father had refused to meet with him somewhere in Magnolia he actually hadn't even responded to anyone. He was livid. Stupid Heartfilia's. While Laxus was slowly making his way to the Heartfilia mansion he thought about the letters and her diary entries of this place. One line in particular stood out to him.

"In this dusty rose dress I've been told I look like my mother. At least that was what everyone has said all evening when they saw me tonight in her dress. I don't feel like my mother. My mother was strong, kind, a light all of her own. I dress up like this I only feel like a doll. The person I want to be is distant memory tonight when I look at my reflection..."

An hour and a half after he had arrived he was finally allowed to see Jude Heartfilia. The butler, Sebastian, led him in through the large double doors of the moguls study. The large man behind the desk didn't even turn to look at him when he entered his office. He sat at the window looking at a statue of an angel. Dried tears stained his face. "What do you want?" Jude said getting up from his chair to take another drink. Jude Heartfilia was considered a brilliant business man but was emotionally weak. He had turned his back on his daughter when Layla died because he didn't know what to do. So he threw his heart and soul into his business. Trying to tap dance away the pain he felt. But now...

Jude looked at the bottle of scotch in his office in utter defeat. Things all seemed wasted. He had built this empire to share with his wife and now she was taken. He dreamt of giving this business to Lucy and one day making up with her. He always thought there was time. For so long he had been focused on the wrong things in life. And now he had lost Lucy. The last thing of Layla. His daughter. More tears came down his face. "If you're going to stand there. Then get the fuck out."

"I'm here to ask questions about Lucy." Laxus said hesitantly. He prepared to meet a pompous ass. Not a wreck..

"Mr. Heartfilia I'm sorry for your loss-"

"Are you?" He asked taking the crystal decanter. To hell with manners at this point. Laxus stood there, was he? "I didn't know her. But from what I'm learning- she was something else." Is all he decided to say on the matter. Jude snorted. "Don't lie to me Dreyar. I've heard of you, a con, a womanizer, and I heard how you made my daughter feel like shit the few times you did see her."

Laxus raised an eyebrow at how he knew all of that. Jude coughed. "You didn't think I did my homework when I finally found out where she ran off to?" Jude stumbled over to the desk. He collapsed in his chair. Laxus shook his head. "You're right then. I didn't like her at first. But the more I'm finding out about her the more I'm finding out I was wrong about my initial idea of her. I'm committed to finding her murder if it makes anything better." Jude's eyes bore into Laxus's. "Good. It's what I'm paying you to do. Sit." Laxus was annoyed.

"Why are you here? Have you found the murder?"

Laxus shook his head. He slowly made his way from the doorway to a chair across from the man. "I actually came here to ask you a few questions about Lucy."

"I don't know why you would be doing that. If you haven't figured it out already we were very much estranged and she told me to go to hell after I paid Phantom Lord to destroy your guild."

Laxus nodded, he didn't like the guy. He was relieved when he read Lucy was just as angry about it like he was. "Yes but there's a few things I want to ask if you know about. Like do you know if this was done out of revenge? Was she having any problems? What do you know?"

Jude took a deep breath. "If you're asking if a business partner of mine did this then I hate to disappoint but no I don't think it was like that."

"Why haven't you come to visit her apartment or identify the body?" He asked almost accusing the man of the murder. Jude let out a choked sob. "You're asking a father to come and identify the headless body of his daughter lying in her apartment?"

Laxus scowled. "I could not stand the idea of looking at her dead and lifeless. I would rather remember her when she was alive. Even if that last look was full of hatred and defiance."

Laxus nodded that answer was only somewhat satisfactory. "But the last time you saw her she was pissed at you. I read in her diary-"

"You read my daughters diary!?"

Laxus scowled annoyed. "And how do you suppose I solve her murder? I don't know the woman! Answer the question!" Jude scowled. "Then you must know she was enamored with you at one point." He said drinking more.

Laxus raised an eyebrow. "No?"

Jude's eyes widen. "Ah, well my daughter was quite fond of you when you were 18" Jude laughed it was bitter and tinged with regret. Laxus looked taken aback. Jude was lost in nostalgia for a moment. He remembered seeing Lucy trying to sneak that blasted magazine past his nose. She would gawk at the lightning mages pictures. He sighed remembering their last meeting.

"She hated me-"

"Father. I've come here to tell you that I am never coming back." She said it directly keeping her eyes on her father's expansive back. He spun around. His eyes blazing with anger.

"What did you say?!" His anger filled the room.

"I said I am not ever coming back. This is not my home, this is a prison. I will not be a prisoner in my own life." She stated calmly again.

"Don't be stupid. You will marry and create a good match that will further the Heartfillia company." He all but screamed at her.

"I WILL NEVER MARRY ANYONE WITHOUT LOVE! YOU ARE NO FATHER OF MINE! MOTHER WOULD BE HEARTBROKEN TO HEAR YOU SPEAK TO ME LIKE THIS." She was yelling at him now. "I WOULD RATHER DIE THAN BE IN THIS HOUSE. I AM NO LONGER LUCKY LUCY HEARTFILLIA!" She said ripping her dress and exposing the corset underneath.

He winced, he had treated her so badly that day. It was strange he thought he had time. Time to make amends, time for her to come to her senses. But now time was out. Laxus listened to the man. "What did you think of Team Natsu?"

Jude looked perplexed. "I had no opinion. I never met them personally. Just knew that she was fond of them." Laxus nodded, "so you don't think this could be a retaliation murder? Phantom Lord?"

Jude shook his head. "No."

"What do you think of your sisters relationship with your daughter?" Jude raised an eyebrow thinking that question was odd. "Fine. They got along nicely. Sue could never replace Layla but they talked frequently. Girl talk, is what they called it. My sister is something else-"

"What do you think of Vincent?" Jude scowled. Laxus smirked, Jude shook his head. "The boy was raised with everything at his feet. But his family had more status than money. He had no sense. Their marriage would allow me to have more status and more connections. If it weren't for that I wouldn't have even allowed a marriage to take place. He was petty, weak, he couldn't handle money to save his life. My sister would say we couldn't afford him. He was weak."

"So you didn't like him?"

"For Lucy as a person? No. In retrospect he enamored her in that one summer but she seemed to come to her senses. Why? I'll never know."

Laxus nodded. "Magnus?"

Jude stiffened. "Lucy didn't share much with me but what she did share made me infuriated. It was like he was grooming her. I was fine with his mentor role as a child. Truth be told though I made a fuss over her writing stories, it didn't bother me as much as I made it seem it did. As long as she got her stuff done it didn't matter. So when Magnus and her would discuss art, literature and he would help her with her writing it didn't bother me. But his role as a mentor and role model changed when u tried to set up her marriage. When I decided to start setting Lucy's marriage up no man was good for her. He would butt in, the worst was Jacoby. He was a pompous arrogant man, he could be humorous. But he was an elitist. Lucy could never have been happy with him as a husband though."

"The man who did her portrait, that was Jacoby right?"

"Portrait?"

"There's a portrait by that guy in her apartment. He paid her to be a model for it. It helped cover a bill and also a key she bought later that month." Jude nodded. "Well I didn't know that. But yes, he seemed nice enough, for the most part I agreed with his character assessments. But I was trying to set up a marriage. Between us, as two men. He loved my daughter. He once asked for my daughter's hand in marriage but I said no. I'm not sure if Lucy knew that."

Laxus nodded. "If you think of anything else-"

"You'll be the first person I contact." Jude said taking a swig, he burped loudly. He looked slightly ashamed. Laxus waved it off and got up to leave.

Laxus shook his head as he reached the train station just in time to catch the return train to Magnolia. He sat in a empty compartment. He thought back again to the diary as his motion sickness was starting to kick in. How Lucy would allow Natsu to lay in her lap. Would that have helped him? He growled thinking about that. That was stupid he couldn't be thinking about that.

Laxus was listening to his music thinking about the case. Until sleep took him. When he opened his eyes he was shocked to see Lucy sitting across from him. He was confused. "You're dead!" She patted her lap and looked up at the large man. "What? you want me to sit on you?" He said sarcastically his stomach was flipping wildly. He was sweating profusely.

"No you dummy. I want you to lay your head here on my lap." She said laughing. "You wouldn't fit in my lap." He did as he was told, it seemed easier to not fight what was happening. As soon as he hit her lap, her fingers found their way to his scalp and began to lightly massage it. Relief flooded him.

"Don't tell anyone.."

"Secrets safe with me." Lucy giggled. "Laxus why are you doing this?"

Laxus knew he was going to regret this but he sat up and looked her in the face. He was stunned for a moment, she was looking down at him her eyes full of trust. Just as he was about to answer the signal for allowing people to know they had arrived in Magnolia went off waking him up. He was breathing heavy. 'What the hell was that?' He looked around wildly. He took a deep breath and got off the train and walked out to the station. He looked at the clock in the station. The sun was starting to go down. He sighed, he needed to go and see Vincent. He sighed and made his way back Vincent's hotel room.

Shout outs to: Blueeyeddevil137, Lieutenant Myst, MyllaMD, Lazycouchpotato, thank you for the favorites and follows! If you followed or favorited this story and I didn't get a email about it thank you! Your support is appreciated!

Alicia: I love that I've roped you in and you hate mysteries! Muhawahahhaha! Lol

This chapter was supposed to be longer but I gotta work a few kinks so I broke it up. See y'all next chapter! My Grandma got sick with Corona and I've been working full time so I apologize for the delays in updates but I should go back to a weekly schedule here soon. Thank you all and I hope you all are doing well! Oh man when I wrote this chapter I knew I had to include that dream scene. I loved it!

Further authors note: I'm going to put this on my other stories...now no one has actually been rude to me on this story or really any of my stories, well one person has but that's not the point. I just want to say this. I'm ok with criticism as long as it's constructive. Please do not call me a virgin, or a troll, or a dumb ass. I like constructive. Like when that one guest viewer said Lucy hid behind the spirits and called me out for fudging that was ok! Just let's not call me a bitch or stuff please. Thank you.