AN: Chapter 11

First off, a shout out to Msktk: PLEEEAAAASSSEEE go check out her works! Iron Gray and Monster, both Gajevy fanfics, and both AMAZING! She has been working on these for a while and I honestly can't express how good they are. So please go give her some love and read/review her stories!

Second: Guys… ladies… my AWESOME readers/reviewers…. I am very sorry that it's taken me over a month to update anything I've been working on. I swear I wanted to get this chapter up on my bday, Jan 6th, but it just didn't happen. My problem was that, I had started writing it, and I really wasn't liking what I was writing, so I kept putting it off, and putting it off and just ultimately getting out of the grove of writing.

And so when I was finally able to get back into the swing of writing, I got distracted by a lot of things. This chapter was actually finished yesterday, but I needed to reread it over, I ended up changing, adding, editing (not even sure that I got everything because I've been staring at it for so long lol) but anywhos. I made this chapter a bit longer than usual. I hope you guys like it. I did end up changing the ending of this because this chapter was originally supposed to be the second chapter of the story. Obviously I ended up adding more stuff in the beginning and adding more to this chapter than I had originally planned lol. So the beginning of the next is basically where I was going to end this one.

Enough with my babbling, I'm just going to let you guys read. I hope you all enjoy this chapter, get a couple laughs in, and please let me know what you think! Thank you guys for being so patient with me and I'm hopefully going to be working on my other story soon as well!

Nyma: haha yeah I know, Finn does have it pretty hard. It will get better soon! And I know, trust me, this whole thing between his parents is rough. But this idea was better than having one of them dead… caz that was my first thought for the story .

BambooGreen: Lol yeah Gajeel is getting pretty close to kicking Lily in the ass. ;) trust me he's about had it with his child.

Finn stood outside quietly, watching his mother pack the last of her suitcases into the trunk of her car. His blue eyes glanced over to Rain who was handing Juvia her luggage as well, wondering what was going through her mind right now. For Finn, he knew he was making the right decision by staying with his father. As badly as he wanted to go live with Juvia, he knew someone had to stay here and watch over Gray.

The young ice mage kept replaying the night before in his own mind, thinking about what he had walked into last night. His mother crying on the couch, her telling him to his face that his parents were going to be separating, and that his mother was going to move out and take them with her. He remembered Gray coming into view and spouting drunkenly about how he felt about everything and how he accused Finn of loving his mother more all these years because he was too hard on Finn during training. Finn shook his head as he knew his father was just drunk; he could never choose one parent over the other. As much as Gray pushed him through his training, no matter what he would say to Finn, deep down, Finn knew he deeply cared for both of his parents. Nothing could ever change that fact.

That is why he made up his mind to stay at home and live with Gray. He knew his mother and sister would be perfectly fine moving away, in fact it would be better for the two. Finn was worried about his father. What was going to happen if the three of them all moved out and left Gray to himself at home to wallow in his sadness? Gray was already quite a mess to begin with. 'I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I left here and he ended up hurting himself… not to mention I'm still going to school and I would like to go to college with Leo and… Lily…. So there really is no upside to me leaving with mom, besides the fact that I'd get away from dads training.'

Juvia shoved the last of Rains bags into the car and looked back at her son as he stood with his hands in his pockets, his eyes looking down at the ground as his mind was wondering with his many thoughts. She smiled slightly as she shut the trunk and walked over to Finn slowly. The water mage placed her hand lightly on Finns' shoulder, causing him to look up suddenly.

"Mom!"

"Finn… I just want to say thank you for deciding to stay here with your father. You know you don't have to. You can still come live with me and Rain."

Finn half smiled as he rubbed the back of his head. "I know. I just think it's better if I stayed here. I want to stay close to home because of my friends too. When I get my own car, I'll make sure to come visit whenever I can."

Juvia's hand moved up to Finns cheek, caressing it lightly as she smiled. Tears began to form in her blue eyes as she looked at her son standing before her. "You shouldn't have had to grow up this fast, Finn."

Finn placed his own cool hand over his mother's softly. "We all have to grow up at some point mom. Some just grow up sooner than others is all."

Juvia laughed lightly as her tears escaped her eyes, running down her pale cheeks slowly. Finn smiled as he reached up and wiped her tears away with his thumb. "Come on mom, don't cry. It's not like this is goodbye forever. You guys are just moving a town over, right? I promise I'll come visit soon."

"I know, I know. It's just that… you're still my baby boy. You always will be. I'm just sorry it came down to this." Juvia wrapped her arms around her sons' neck and pulled him in close, hugging him tightly. "Please take care of him. And if things get too out of hand, you just get into that van and you come to me. Don't think you have to do this alone Finn."

Finn embraced his mother tightly as she spoke, wanting so desperately to just be able to leave with them. "I will mom. Don't worry about us."

Juvia moved back slightly, her hands on Finns shoulders as she looked at him one last time. As she let Finn go and turned around to get into the car, Rain stood behind her, her hands clenched into fists at her sides as she looked at Finn. The ice mage smiled slightly as he walked up to Rain, placing a hand over her blue hair.

"I don't need you crying too, Rain. You've gotta job too, you know. You've gotta make sure moms' gonna be ok at the new house."

Rain looked down, her eyes shielded by her bangs. "I.. know."

"You going to be ok going to school by yourself?" Finn asked quietly.

His sister managed to nod her head, not wanting to show Finn that she was holding back her own tears. The young wizard didn't want to leave without Finn, wanting to just yell at him and tell him he had to come with her. But she was smarter than that. She knew what he was doing and that it was the right thing to do in the end. To her, the only plus side to this whole situation was that she was getting away from the anger in this house, the late night fighting and shouting, the tension between her parents, the stress it put on her and her brother. All of it was going to be gone soon. Not having Finn with her was the harder thing to think about. The two have been together since she was born and have done mostly everything together.

Finn could tell what Rain was thinking almost immediately and quickly lifted her chin up with his hand, kneeling down slightly to come eye level with his sister. "Hey…" He said softly as he looked into her teary eyes. Finn brought both hands up to her cheeks, clearing them off the warm tears streaming down. "You'll be ok. Have I ever broken a promise to you yet?"

Rain shook her head. "No… I just…I want you to come with us… but I know you are staying to take care of dad. And I have to be strong for mom and take care of her. I just—"

"I know Rain. This is gonna be weird for me too. We can do it though, Rain. We're Fullbusters after all. Remember? And if you ever get homesick or miss me too much, just do this." Finn took back his hands and cupped them together. An icy mist formed around them as Finn stared hard at his hands, concentrating on his magic. Rain watched him intently as his icy mist grew from his hands. After a few long seconds, Finn opened his palms and held out a small figure made of ice. Rains eyes opened widely in disbelief that her brother was able to make something from his magic. She never knew he was able to do that until now.

"It's…a fairy…"

"Yeah, like the ones Mr. Makarov used to make, remember? He always used to tell us if you are ever alone and feeling down, just make this symbol and think of your friends and loved ones and chances are, they are thinking about you too. That way you are never truly alone wherever you are."

Rain looked back up to Finns smiling face as he held out the ice figure. She took it into her own hands, gripping it tightly. "Thank you Finn. I won't forget. I promise. And I'll be strong."

"Good! And when I come visit, we can practice our magic with each other too. Sound good?"

Rain quickly wrapped her arms around her brother as he stood back upright, burying her face into his chest, letting her tears soak into his shirt. Finn put his own arms around his sister and embraced her just as tight.

'This is going to be the first time in fourteen years that we won't be together… it's going to be weird for the both of us, but I know we will get through this. It will be ok. We just have to keep telling ourselves that….'

Rain slowly let Finn go and moved back to the car, her hand hesitating to let go of Finns as she walked away; the other holding the ice figure in her hand. Finn watched as she got into the car, looking back at him quickly, not bothering to buckle herself in just yet. Instead of waving goodbye to her, Finn chose to stick up his right hand up into the air, the back of his hand face outward as he stuck out his index finger and thumb. A sign that his family and friends used to do all the time when they were all younger and a sign Rain knew all too well. She smiled as she too held up her hand to him as the car started to roll away, her brother slowly fading in the distance.

'… and then maybe one day, all of his will dissolve and we can get back to how we were. Maybe one day… we can all be happy again. Like we used to be.'

Finn waited until the car was out of site before going back inside the house. Gray was sitting on the couch, his hands holding something tightly as he sat there quietly. "You didn't have to stay you know." Gray said as Finn entered the house.

Finn closed the front door behind him and walked past the couch, heading straight for the stairs. "Yes I did. Someone is going to have to help you around here. And I didn't want to leave my friends behind either. Just didn't feel right."

Gray hung his head slightly as he heard Finn take a few steps up the stairs. "Finn…"

The young boy stopped and looked down at his father, not responding to his name being said. Gray continued to sit there in silence for a long minute before he set down a small picture frame on the table in front of him. He brought his hands back up under his chin, making a fist with one hand and placing the other on top of his fist. He spoke softly, almost a whisper. "Thank you…."

Finn knew Gray was thanking him ultimately for deciding to stay, because without someone here to help him, Gray would probably fall into pieces. Finn knew his father still cared for his mother very much, and was upset this was how things were playing out. Finn looked back to the stairs and continued to walk up them, leaving his father in silence.

The ice mage clenched his fists tightly as he thought to himself. 'Even after everything I've said to you over the years, after pushing you over and over in training… after everything… you decided to stay….'

Four years later…

Finn's alarm clock went off early in the morning, the sound ringing throughout his room. The ice mage rolled over in his bed, his hand slamming down on the annoying sound coming from the small clock on his table beside his bed. A solid blue eye opened slowly, focusing on the time flashing on the alarm clock. A groan escaped Finn's throat as he sat up, rubbing his eyes lightly with the back of his hand. "Is it really seven already?"

The mage hadn't gotten much sleep the night before, seeing how he had to pick up his drunken father up from the bar last night, and not getting home until the late hours was killing him. He was now a junior in college and was taking classes way beyond what a normal junior in college should be taking. Leo, Lily, and Finn were actually taking certain classes together at the same community college they all applied for. Leo had just begun his freshman year, but because he had taken advanced tests and passed, they allowed him to take higher level classes along with Finn.

Lily was reaching the end of her senior year and wasn't doing well at all. Finn often wondered how she was even making through the past couple of years just because now a days, she was off doing shows and interviews with her band, which she renamed Black Lotus. Not to mention she had a weird relationship with Chrono. She would often, after shows, leave with other men if they had gotten into an argument.

Finn tried not to think of that fact about Lily too much as he tried each, and every day to concentrate on his school work, his magic, and his father. It wasn't easy, but he also got a part time job working at Fired Up to help pay the bills and put money away for himself. Juvia would send him money every month for Finn to spend it on whatever he would like to, but more than likely, he would use it to pay bills that never seemed to end.

The ice mage stretched as he stood up from his bed, looking over his calendar to see which classes he had for the day so he could figure out what time he could get back home, make dinner for his father, and then go to work.

"Let's see… looks like I can get back here around three… make something for dad, go to work until ten, come home and do homework and then maybe get some time to practice my magic before bed." Finn let out a long sigh as he rubbed the back of his neck. "That's just if dad can stay home tonight and not go out and drink. If he does go out, there goes my time to sleep. Oh well… I guess I'm pretty used to it by now."

Finn changed quickly and gathered up his back pack, grabbing only the books he will need for the day. He left his room after a few minutes and made his way downstairs, his ears picking up the moans from his very hung-over father in the living room. The ice mage made a stop at the kitchen to grab an apple before making his way into the living room. He looked at Gray laying down on the couch, his hand over his pounding head, the other hanging limply off the side with a lit cigarette in hand. Finn rolled his eyes and set his bag down along with his apple.

He walked back into the kitchen to grab a glass of water and some aspirin for his headache. 'Wonder I he will finally sign those papers today. I did talk to him last night before he went off to the bar, but then again, I'm basically talking to deaf ears. I just wish he could get this over and done with. I'm mean it's been four years already… how much longer does he want to drag this on?' Finn walked back into the living room and set the glass of water down along with the medicine he brought for his dad. "Come on dad. Time to get up."

"I told you... I ain't workin' this week. I took it off…." Gray said as he waved his hand towards Finn, dismissing his words to get up.

Finn sighed as he moved to the arm of the couch and lifted his father to an upright position. "Good, then you can sign those divorce papers for mom if you're not doing anything."

Gray was like a rag doll as Finn helped him sit up on the couch, not once helping his son move his own body. He winced as the move made his head pound harder. "God damn it Finn… I can take care of myself!"

Finn stepped back in front of Gray and outstretched his hands. "Can you dad? Look at this place! It's a disaster in here! And you look scruffy as ever. When was the last time you changed your clothes or showered?" The ice mage let out a sigh as he dropped his arms down at his sides as he watched Gray's cold eyes look around the room, shrugging his shoulders. "Look, I'm going to be late for class, and I'm supposed to meet up with Lily this morning before then. Please do me a favor today, instead of going out to the bar, sign those papers, and clean yourself up. Maybe then you can clean up around here."

Finn handed Gray the glass of water and medicine before walking back to his bag and apple, throwing the bag straps over his shoulder and taking a bite of his apple. He could hear his father from the couch behind him as he walked to the front door.

"She's becoming a trouble maker, Finn. You need to leave her alone. She's gotten worse over these years and if you don't think I can't see her playing you like a fiddle, then you are damn wrong, kid."

Finn turned his head slightly, speaking softly. "I know what I'm doing. Lily isn't playing me or using me. Why don't you just worry about those papers in front of you before you start getting into my life and my friends."

Gray looked to the table where papers were scattered all over, empty beer bottles and an overflowing ashtray was. A small picture frame sat next to the papers that had been signed by Juvia and were waiting patiently for Gray to sign. Gray smirked slightly as he threw the medicine Finn handed him to the back of his throat, drinking the glass of water to wash them down. Finn shook his head at his father's silence and left the house quickly.

The navy haired boy pulled his phone out from his front pocket and started a text to Lily, letting her know that was going to be a little late to getting to school this morning. "And hopefully you are already there waiting for me. But just in case, I'll text Leo and see if you are there."

Finn put his phone back into his pocket after he sent his friend a text and got into his car, placing his backpack in the passenger seat. As soon as he sat down in the driver's seat, his phone went off in his pocket. "Wow that was quick." Finn pulled his phone back out from his pocket and read the text from Leo.

Hey Finn, hate to tell ya, but when I went to go pick Lily up this morning, Auntie Lev told me Lily never came home last night. She said Lily sent her a text sayin' she had a gig and that she was going to get a ride from someone else. Sorry man.

Finn sighed as he put his phone down into the seat next to him. "So that means she's probably not going to make it to the first class today. Looks like I'm taking notes for two people today, again."

Hazel eyes opened slowly, blinking, and trying to adjust to the sudden light coming through the nearby window. Lily moaned loudly as she turned her head in the opposite direction of the window, avoiding the sun's rays. She tried desperately to get back to sleep, seeing how she didn't get much sleep the night before. Minutes went by before the dark haired girl sighed and sat up quickly. She rubbed her eyes as she sat on the back of her legs, looking around the unfamiliar room she was in.

'Where the hell am I? And what the hell did I do last night?' She thought to herself as she scratched the back of her head. As the script mage turned her head and looked down at the person lying beside her, she began to remember what had happened. "Oh yeah…" she said with a grin. "That's what happened last night."

Lily suddenly could hear the faint sound of her phone going off somewhere in the room, a sound a normal human ear would never be able to pick up. She swung her legs around to the front of her body and lifted herself off the bed, glancing down at her body. She was wearing close to nothing, but knew she hadn't done anything major with the guy that took her back to his place. Her mind went back on track as she heard the ringtone of her text messages going off again. Lily scrambled to find it; lifting up and searching through every piece of clothing on the floor.

The girl managed to find her phone and checked her messages. Two were from her father and one was from Finn. Lily rolled her eyes as she ignored her father's text messages and went straight for Finns.

Hey you missed out on first class, don't worry I have notes for you. Just hurry up and get here soon.

Lily smiled as she sent a quick text back to her friend, letting him know she was on her way. The girl turned around and looked at the random guy on the bed, her eyes narrowing as she watched him sleep. "Oi! Wake up!"

The man in bed groaned as he stirred slightly, mumbling to her in his sleep. Lily put her hands on her hips and shifted her body to one side. "I said, wake up! Come on! You've gotta take me to school."

The man sat up slowly, turning his head towards her. "Why can't you just drive yourself?"

In between pulling up her pants over her legs, and putting on her tank top, Lily replied. "One, I don't have a license, two, I don't have car of my own, and three you drove me here, dumbass. Now get up! I'm going to be late for my next class."

The man frowned as he looked at the girls' backside as she turned around, his eyes slowly moving down her slender body down to her rounded rear. He had known that she was a great man's daughter, and how she had inherited his dragon slayer sense, but if there was one thing she got from her mother, it was that ass. He grinned stupidly as he thought about running his hands over her soft back, all the way down to her rear, thinking of everything he would do to this girl had she let him go further with her.

Lily glanced back and glared at the man, growling loudly. "Hey! I said let's go! I don't have time for you to check me out!"

The man brought his legs over the side of the bed and stood slowly, stretching out his arms, letting Lily take in his naked body for a moment. The dark haired girl looked him over, clearly unimpressed. She rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms over her chest. 'I honestly don't know why I hooked up with this guy last night…'

"Will you just throw some pants on already? I'm gonna be late."

The man put his hands out to the sides, smirking as he spoke. "What? You don't wanna do a little something before we go?"

Lily narrowed her eye brows as she stared at him with an unamused expression. "No. I don't see anything that I like so let's go."

The man frowned as he shook his head, leaning over to grab his clothes. "Damn, you are one cold-hearted lady."

"I just know what I want is all. And you, clearly, are not it." Lily responded quickly.

The tall man turned as he pulled his belt through his pant buckle loops. "Then why did you come home with me, and not someone else? You clearly knowing what you want and all."

Lily glanced away from him, thinking over what he stated. True she put on a tough act around guys she's been with, but if she was true to herself, she didn't know what she wanted. Perhaps this is why she was always finding someone else to go home with instead of Chrono anytime they got into a fight. 'What does it matter? I can have anyone I want in the end. This is just for fun…unless… I'm just doing this, searching for someone who is better than what I've got….'

"Uh, earth to Lily! Are we going or no? Did you change your mind about doin' something before we go?"

Lily looked back to the man before her. He was smiling as he held out his hands to her, motioning her back to his arms. She scoffed as she walked past him, heading for his front door to his apartment. "Let's just go, idiot."

Finn stood outside his last class he would have had with Lily that day, sighing to himself as he waited with his back up against the wall. 'I should have known she wasn't going to make it to classes today. It's Monday and she had a gig last night. I don't know why I get my hopes up like this.'

"Finn!" Came a voice from down the hallway. Finn's heart jumped at the sweet voice that called his name out loud over the noisy students walking past him. He looked up and saw Lily racing to him. He blushed a deep shade of red as he looked her over as she came closer to him. She was wearing a skin tight tank top with a pair of torn up jeans, once again, revealing every curve she had on her frame. Her black hair looked like it had a fun night itself seeing how she didn't bother to brush it out, pull it back in a ponytail, or put a simple headband over it to keep it down.

'She… she looks like a mess… but a hot one at that… oh god… don't start thinking about it, don't start thinking about her that way!' "He-eey… Lily."

The older girl stopped just before Finn and let out a breath, throwing her hand up slightly as she shook her head. "I am so sorry I missed out on classes today… I forgot to set an alarm on my phone and well… the rest isn't really important."

Finn smiled at her as he blushed. "It's o-ok… I took notes for you for all the classes."

Lily smiled as she shifted her weight to one side, looking at Finn with caring eyes. "Finn… you are the absolute best! I don't know what I'd do without you!"

Finn handed over a notebook to the girl, shrugging his shoulders. "It's nothing, really…"

"Well I've gotta get going so I'll see you later?" Lily asked as she took the notebook from the younger boy. Finn nodded as she giggled, turning on her heels and walking away. "Thanks again Finn!"

Finn raised his hand to wave goodbye slowly, watching Lily's frame disappear into the sea of students, taking in the way she looked today.

"I see she is once again using you to pass her classes?"

Finn's eyes widened and then quickly lowered into a glare at Leo as he stood beside Finn now. "Don't you have a class to get to?! Why must you always be in my business?!"

Leo put a hand to his chest, looking like he just been insulted by his best friend. "It's my duty as your best friend to be in your business at all times! Haven't you ever read the best friends forever handbook?!"

"There's no such thing as the best friend forever handbook!" Finn said angrily as he started to walk away to his next class. Leo smiled as he chased after Finn.

"Yes there is! We made it up when we were younger and it was left in the treehouse!"

"No, I clearly remember Lily stealing it and using her script magic to burn it. She said she was using it for practice since it wasn't nice to use us as targets."

Leo stopped in his tracks, replaying that day when they were younger. "Oh yeah… I remember that now. That day was awful." Leo looked up and lost sight of Finn for a moment. The blonde boy quickly yelled out over the crowd, "Finn! Wait! There's more I had to talk to you about!" Leo frowned as he completely lost Finn in the crowd, cursing himself for stopping and getting distracted. "Oh well, if I see him later I'll tell him."

As Finn reached his next class, his phone went off in his pocket, a familiar ringtone letting him know that I was Lily texting him. He smiled as he stopped outside the door to read what she had to say.

Finn, I'm not going to be able to make it to my last class, can you pick up my homework and bring it by to my house later? I'm not feeling so good and I think I'm just going to go home and lay down for a while.

The ice mage looked up as he heard giggling coming from a few doors down. His heart sank as he saw Lily running a finger over Chrono's chest, giggling as he talked to her softly. Finn knew what she was planning on doing; skipping classes to go be with Chrono.

'Yeah caz I'm sure he said something to make you forget about what happened between you two, so now you guys gotta go make up… ugh…. I don't know why I do this to myself.'

Finn responded to her text, letting her know that he would see her later with her work for the day. His solid blue eyes glanced back up as he watched them leave hand in hand. 'I just hope he is gone by the time I get to your house Lil…'

Finn stared up at Lily's window, swallowing the lump in his throat as he prayed to god that she was alone. He stepped up to the front door, knocking on it gently. He could hear rustling in the house of someone racing to the door, calling out that they got it. As the door swung open, solid blue eyes landed down on a twelve year old girl who was the spitting image of Levy in every way. The messy blue hair, the hazel eyes, light colored skin, and the height. Her cheeks flushed immediately as she looked up at the taller boy, her hands going behind her backside as she turned her body back and forth slightly.

"Hiii Finn…"

Finn smiled at Lily's younger sister as he held up his hand to say hello. "Hey Leviana. Is Lily home? I've got some stuff for her."

The blue haired girl began to pout as she looked up at Finn. "Aww... I thought you were here to whisk me away and take me to an island to get married."

Finn laughed nervously as he stepped inside, following Leviana. "I don't think your dad will be ok with that Leviana."

The young girl smiled as she looked back at Finn. "Don't worry Finn, daddy and mommy went on a date weekend on Friday and said they wouldn't be back til later. We totally have the time!"

Finn looked away nervously. 'Well technically we wouldn't… and even if we did, I still don't think Gajeel would allow it.'

The ice mages thoughts were interrupted by Leviana speaking once more. "Lily is upstairs in her room." She said with a sly smile. Finn raised a brow as he looked at her expression, like she was up to something sneaky. He knew she had the dragon slayer magic like her father, but she was as smart as her mother. A combination he didn't really want to mess with at the moment. Finn quickly made his way up the stairs to Lily's room, knocking on her door softly.

A moment later after he knocked, Lily's voice could be heard. "Who is it?"

Finn straighten himself up as he spoke back through her closed door. "It's Finn. I've got your work from your classes Lil. I can't stay long so I'm just gonna leave it outside—"

"No! I'll be right there! Just let me get dressed!" Lily responded quickly.

'Get dressed?... oh no.. please don't tell me… he's here right now.'

Lily rushed to the door and quickly opened it, surprising Finn suddenly. "Hey!" She said cheerfully.

Finn's pale face turned completely red as he looked at Lily in the doorway. "I-is that what yo-you call getting dressed?!" The ice mage quickly turned his head and held up a hand in front of him as Lily stood in just her bra and underwear.

"What? I'm covered aren't I?" lily said with a smile.

"Y-yeah, bu-but—"

"Hey Finn!"

Finn looked back past Lily to the bed where Chrono was waving a hand to him. Finn could feel himself grow angry as the jerk under the covers waved a hand to him. 'He's got some nerve… I still remember what he did to me four years ago….'

Without looking back at Lily's body that still stood its ground in front of him, Finn held out a folder full of Lily's homework. "L-look… here's your homework, I've gotta—"

"LILY! MOM AND DAD ARE BACK HOOOME!" Came Levianas voice from down the stairs. Lily's face suddenly turned from confidence to panic in a split second.

"Crap! Dad told me they weren't going to be back til later!"

Leviana moved closer to the stairs to shout back at her sister some more. "YOU'RE GONNA BE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE! YOU'RE GONNA BE IN TROOOUUBBLEE!" She shouted mockingly.

Lily's eye brows crossed as she shouted back, clenching her fists at her sides tightly. "SHUT UP LEVIANA! YOU'RE SUCH A BRAT!"

"AT LEAST I'M NOT GONNA DIE LIKE YOO-OOOOUUU!"

"AT LEAST I'M NOT AN ACCIDENT BABY!"

"YES YOU WERE! MOMMY AND DADDY WERE DRUNK WHEN THE MADE YOU! GAJE WAS THE ONLY PLANNED ONE!"

Lily growled as she knew Leviana got one up on her. "WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP?! YOU'RE SO ANNOYING!"

Finn let his hand down and looked at his friend nervously. "Why are you so worried that he's back so soon?!"

"Because he doesn't want Chrono here anymore! And he's in my bed, oh my god I'm in so much trouble!"

Finn motioned his thumb over his shoulder as he took a step back. "Well, I'm just going to let myself out."

Lily jumped up quickly. "What?! No! I need you!" Before Finn could protest and ask questions, Lily grabbed him by his shirt and quickly pulled him into her room, closing the door behind them both.

"Uh… Lil? What are you doing?"

Lily held her hands up in front of her body, looking at both Finn and Chrono. "I have an idea. I need both of you to cooperate with me. Chrono get in my closet, Finn I need you to strip and get under the covers on my bed."

Both Finn and Chrono responded to her in unison. "WHAT?!"

Lily stomped her foot on the ground and pointed a finger at her walk-in closet. "I don't have time to explain right now! If you both don't want to die by my father's hands, just do what I tell you to do!"

Finn pointed back at the door. "Your dad is going to kill me if he sees me in the bed naked!"

"Yeah and why do I need to go in the closet?" Chrono asked as he stood.

Lily groaned as she rolled her head around in a circle, looking back at Chrono seriously. "Because he doesn't want you in the house, and I can't have him find out that you are here right now! Finn's scent will mask it and that's why you need to hold onto his clothes! My father's nose is more powerful than mine but once he gets distracted by seeing me and Finn together, he won't be concentrating on the faint smell of you! Get it?!"

Chrono thought for a minute, long and hard, shaking his head no after Lily explained everything to him and Finn. "No…I still don't get it."

Lily growled as she picked up her boyfriend's clothes and moved onto her bed, pushing Chrono out, and throwing his clothes to him. "God, Chrono! You're so stupid! Just get in there! Finn strip now! Strip like your life depends on it!"

'But my life does depend on it! Your dad is going to kill me if he sees me naked in bed!' Finn thought as he fought with himself to help Lily out, or to get her in trouble. As his eyes locked with her frantic hazel ones, he sighed and quickly took off his shirt and pants. He kept his boxers and socks on, and threw the undressed articles of clothing into the closet over Chrono. The ice mage turned back around to face the bed where Lily was waiting under the covers, looking towards her nervously and quickly making his way to Lily's bed and under her covers as well.

Lily could hear Gajeel storming up the stairs and her mother trying to hold him back, telling him that Chrono was not here since his car was not in the driveway. Gajeel of course didn't believe her, saying he could smell him; his scent still quite fresh in the air. She turned to face Finn and spoke quickly. "I need you to kiss me."

"What?" Finn said as he looked back at Lily in disbelief.

"I need you to kiss me right now!" She demanded.

"Lil, I'm not going to ki—"

The older girl cupped Finn's cheeks as she pulled him in quickly to her warm lips. Finn's eyes grew wide as he melted into the kiss. Her lips were soft like velvet against his cool ones. He had never kissed a girl before in his life, and wasn't quite sure what to do. This new sensation was making his body react all over. He wanted to bring his own hands up and run them up through her dark, messy hair, grip it lightly and pull her in instinctively for a deeper kiss. He fought with his thoughts on what to do next as he sat there in bed, under the covers, completely forgetting where he was, and why he was suddenly kissing Lily. All he could think about was her and this moment.

"I know he's in there Shrimp, and I'm not watin' to find out!" Gajeel growled as he placed a hand on Lily's doorknob.

"Gajeel, it's her room! At least knock before you go in there!" Levy pleaded with him as she pulled on his arm the whole way up the stairs.

"Like hell I am! She shouldn't be doin' anything like that anyways! She knows better!" Gajeel quickly opened the door to Lily's room, anger in his voice as he spoke, "Lily! I've told you a thousand times, and I'll tell ya again, that stupid, no good boy Chrono is not allowed in my house! Now tell me why he's—"Gajeel's sentence was cut off as he looked at his daughter letting go of Finn quickly, both of them looking at the iron dragon slayer standing in the doorway in shock.

'This is it…. I'm going to die…' Finn thought to himself as Gajeel's crimson orbs shifted back and forth between the two on the bed.

Gajeel raised a finger and opened his mouth for a second, trying to find the words to say as he still was in disbelief that it was Finn in the bed and not Chrono. He had known Finn since he was younger and didn't think he had anything to do with this, but things weren't adding up. He knew Lily was up to something. "Finn… since I know thing between your parents isn't going so well, I'm asking right now, and you better tell me the truth kid, is this just you actin' out? Something that you vow to never to again?"

Finn swallowed the lump in his throat as he struggled to get the words out of his mouth. "Y-yes.. Sir… I-I-I'm sorry… th-this won't ever ha-happen again… I swear!"

Gajeel cleared his throat as he stepped aside from the door, crossing his arms over his chest, making his muscles flex to try to intimidate Finn, which was working quite well even without his bulging muscles. "Why don't you uh… head home. Now."

Finn nodded quickly as he scooted to the edge of Lily's bed, grabbing a smaller blanket to wrap around himself as he exited the room quickly. Gajeel's' crimson eyes were back on Lily in an instant. Had Lily not been looking back at Gajeel with his same intense stare, Gajeel would have softened himself up. He knew better than to let Lily have an inch of kindness when she acted out like this. "Don't go draggin' that boy in on this. He has enough on his plate and doesn't need you using him to hide something else. Now I know Chrono was here… and next time I see him, I'ma kill him. You got that?"

Lily rolled her eyes, not taking heed of Gajeel's' warning. "Whatever… Why don't you go bug one of your other kids for a change?! You always have to yell at me for any little thing!"

Finn wanted nothing more than to leave the house as quickly as possible, but somehow, fate was not on his side this day. Gaje caught him just before he exited the house, causing him to stop in his tracks only a few feet from the door.

"Hey Finn." He said as he held a book up to his face while he sat on the couch.

The ice mage turned on his heel, bringing up a hand as he spoke to the younger boy. "H-hey… Gaje… don't mind me… I'm just… trying to leave is all."

"That's cool." Gaje replied as he turned the page in his book. Finn let out a soft breath as he turned back around, stopping once again as Levy's voice came from the top of the stairs.

"Finn, sweetie… did you uh, want a ride back home?" Levy asked kindly. Finn raised a hand as he spoke back.

"Uh, nope! I'm good! I'm just gonna run over to Leo's. No big deal." 'As if this isn't awkward enough… I really don't want to be stuck in the car with you… not like this…'

"Ok… well… it's nice seeing you Finn. Don't be afraid to come back and visit because of all of this!" Levy said as Finn walked closer to the door. Finn groaned softly to himself in embarrassment. As he placed his hand on the doorknob, he could hear Leviana in the background saying goodbye to him loudly.

"Byyyyeee Fiiiinn! I love you!"

'Oh man… this isn't going to be let down until the day I die.'

The ice mage made his way quickly to Leo's house nearby, trying desperately to avoid anyone who was in the area. Finn adjusted the blanket around his waist as he knocked on the front door of Leo's house. He glanced around making sure no one was around to see him still, waiting for someone to open the door.

Finn quickly turned his head back to the front door as it began to open with Leo standing before him. The blonde haired boy looked up and down at his friend, holding back a smirk and laughter as he spoke. "What happened to you? You finally get lucky with Lily or something?" Leo let out a laugh as he finished his sentence. Finn moved up and down slightly as he looked around.

"Yeah something like that, dude just let me in!"

Leo's laughter stopped immediately as he looked at his friend in seriousness. "Wait, what?! Are you serious?! You got with the dragon?!"

Finn pushed Leo aside and let himself inside the house. "Just come in your room with me and I'll explain everything!"

As the two made their way to Leo's room, Finn kept looking around the house. "Are your parents' home?"

"Nah. They are going to be gone all week."

"Good, I don't need anyone else seeing me like this." Finn said as he entered Leo's room, going straight for his dresser.

"Hey, hey! What do you think you're doing going through my clothes?!"

"Isn't it obvious?! I need to borrow some until I can get home!"

Leo leaned against his wall, looking away from Finn as he began to change. "So, tell me exactly why you don't have any clothes on right now."

Finn sighed as he started to explain what had happened, replaying every second in his mind as the thought of warm lips pressed against his flooded his mind once more.

Gajeel growled as he couldn't think of anything else to say to the girl, getting even more frustrated with the situation. The iron dragon slayer threw his hands up in the air in anger. "I'm going for a walk! You drive me crazy and I can't think!

Levy waited until Gajeel was out of the house before she entered Lily's room to speak with her. She knocked on Lily's door softly before entering, seeing Lily at her desk, starting to work on her homework. "Hey, Lil."

"What's up mom?" The dark haired girl said without looking up at her mother as she entered her room and sat down on the bed a few feet away from Lily.

"Lil… I just wanted to ask that you not use Finn like that again."

Lily quickly looked to her mother, her eye brows crossed as the attitude came out from the young girl. "I wasn't using him, mom. God, why can't you and dad trust me for once?! I mean I am an adult you know."

"Yes, sweetie, your father and I realize that. But we still worry about you. I mean the dean of the college called us Friday telling us that your grades are slipping and that you are missing classes. And I know Finn would not do what he did today if you didn't beg for his help. I just want to make sure that you are not using him for the wrong reasons is all."

"Well, I'm not, ok?! And don't worry about whatever that stupid dean says… he's always had it out for me since I started there."

Levy sighed as she stood. "Ok. Well dinner will be ready in half an hour." She made her way back to the door and stopped, turning back around and speaking softly to Lily. "And next time you want to hide your boyfriend from your father, throwing him in the closet and masking his scent with Finn's clothes isn't always going to work. Don't do it again Lil."

Chrono quickly poked his head from around the closet door, astounded that Levy knew he was hiding in there. "How did you know?!"

Lily groaned as she smacked her head with her open palm. Levy smiled and spoke again. "Make sure you get him out before your father finds out Lil."

Lily looked back to her boyfriend and glared at him. "Ok, mom."

Leo leaned back in his chair with his arms behind his head. "Wow… so you guys kissed, huh?"

Finn sat on his bed with his hands resting in between his legs, nodding his head. "Yeah…"

"I think I'm more surprised that Gajeel let you live!" Leo said with a laugh. Finn laughed slightly too, nodding once more.

"I know. I honestly didn't expect to get out of there alive."

"Well, you're more than welcome to crash here for the night."

"Can't, I've gotta go to work and get back home to my dad. This whole thing screwed up my schedule for the day so now not only am I late for work, but I've gotta get home as soon as I can afterwards to take care of him."

Leo brought his hands to the front of his body as he looked at Finn seriously. "He still not signing those divorce papers?"

"No… and he's been hitting up the bar almost every night. I'm finding it hard to get any time in to do homework or even practice my magic."

"My offer still stands, you can still crash here anytime you need to. We could even practice magic together."

Finn smiled at Leo as he held out his hand, "Thanks man, I appreciate it. But I can handle this. I have been for the past four years remember?"

Leo took Finns hand into his own. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Oh hey! You going to see Rain this weekend?"

Finn raised a brow as he looked at Leo. "Yeah why?"

"Do you think I could come along with you? I haven't seen her in so long and I'm worried she's hooked up with someone else because she forgot all about me."

Finn shook his head as he laughed. "She hasn't gotten herself a boyfriend, and I highly doubt she ever will, Leo. And we will see. Depends on if you piss me off or not before the weekend."

"Hey I let you borrow my clothes!" Leo said as he pointed a finger towards the clothes on Finn's back.

"Yes, you did, but that's what best friends do, they lend each other their clothes. So this doesn't count."

"Touché…" Leo said with a smile as he walked his friend back out to the door.

AN: again, I hope I caught all of the mistakes and edits…. * crosses fingers * and i also apologize for so many skips, but on a good note, I think this is the last major time skip! yay! I might have one further down the line, but nothing too crazy like four years lol. and in case you guys were wondering, these are the kids ages at the moment:

Lily- 22
Finn- 20
Leo- 18
Rain- 18
Gaje- 17
Leviana- 12

Thank you guys for reading! And please review!

**on a side note, I threw the touché in here because many years ago, with my group of friends, I was never able to say touché at the right time. Someone could say, hey how's the weather? And I would just simply go, touché! And they would say no, amber… that's not the right time to use it.

I'm being totally honest too lol but over the years, I've gotten better about when I should/can use it lol thus I wanted to throw that in as a little joke.

Also, when Lily said, "God, Chrono! You're so stupid!" That was a reference to Mean Girls the movie. :) My friend, msktk, and I have been saying that line quite a bit and it makes us laugh every time, so I decided to use it in my story. Seemed pretty fitting since Chrono is really stupid lol