Chapter 2
"Hey guys, didn't know you were coming" said Jellal. "Neither did we" they answered in unison as Erza cheerfully came around the corner. "Sorry for the pushiness but I was afraid if I waited to ask then it might not have happened. Aside from being my boss Natsu, your my friend too and it would be nice to see you outside the mafia" she said honestly. "Right there with you" agreed Natsu. "You guys want a drink?. I got a few beers in here" asked Jellal. "Luce, what do you think?" "Why not, sure Jellal go ahead and give me one" said Lucy as Jellal handed her and Natsu a beer. They sat around talking until it was time to go get Layla. "This is going to be a surprise for her" Lucy said joyfully as her , Natsu and Erza were on the way. They pulled up to the school to see Layla walking outside. "Layla!, over here baby girl" Lucy yelled putting a hand to her mouth. She turned and started running as she saw Lucy. "Mommy!" she yelled happy as she hugged her tight. "Hey baby, did you have a good day at school?" she asked looking down at her as she nodded her head. "What are you doing here? Layla asked as Erza stuck her head out the window making Layla shriek with excitement. "Come on kiddo, get on in here" she told her as Lucy opened the door where Layla jumped right in and buckled. "Aunt Erza!" she cried. "Hey Layla sweetheart" "What am I , chopped liver?" Natsu said sarcastic. "Hi daddy!" she greeted loudly. "There happy now?" said Lucy entertained. "Shush up Luce. How was your day baby girl?" he asked turning his head to see her in the back seat. "It was good" she replied. "How were the kids?" "Oh, they were good" She answered but he saw her feeling didn't reach her eyes and knew she was hiding something. Realizing he was staring at her, she got a giant grin on her face hoping it would fool him .Natsu however was not, he saw straight through the smile she had plastered. "I'll talk to her when we get back" he thought to himself as he turned himself back around as he looked in the mirror and smiled as he saw her and Lucy smiling and hugging each other. He knew that wasn't fake for she loved her mother and giving hugs to her.
Once they got to the house, he called Layla over. "we're stepping out for a second Lucy, be right back" he said as he put a gentle hand on Layla's shoulder leading her outside as he shut the door behind them. "Wonder what that's about" said Lucy. " I couldn't tell ya" said Erza. "Want to help me Lucy?" asked Jellal. "Sure, I'd love to help with dinner" she answered eager to help. Outside, Natsu and Layla were sitting on the steps as she was looking down fumbling with her shirt. "Layla" "Yes daddy?" "What happened at school baby girl?" She looked up at him instantly with emotion in her eyes. "Nnnothing daddy" Sighing he said "Little dragon , I'm going to tell you that both you and your mother..you both suck at lying to me. Sweetheart, whatever happened you know I won't be mad" she turned her face back down not looking at him. He took two fingers and had her look up at him. "Layla, what happened, were the kids mean to you?" No!...least not all of them" "What did they do?" he asked, his voice getting edgy with anger. She lifted her shirt showing her scars. "They called me names and picked on me. "Next time that happens, tell them this, tell them your dad is the head of the magnolia mafia. .then see if they pick on you anymore..and if that wont work, tell them you fought for yourself and won. Those punks don't know what you went through baby girl but I promise it stops eventually"
"You promise daddy?" she looked at him with hopeful eyes. Having her stand up, he placed his hands on her shoulders and with a soft voice said "Yes Layla, I promise you will not be picked on forever." She wrapped her arms around his neck as he put his around her waist picking her up as she laid her head on his shoulder. Holding her with one arm, he kissed her on the head as she smiled at him and kissed his cheek. She laid her head back down as he went in. "Everything alright?" asked Lucy concerned. "It's all good baby. We just needed to have a talk, right Layla?" She nodded with a smile putting Lucy's worries at ease. "Okay, well we are getting dinner ready so why don't you take her in the living room Natsu and spend time with her" said Lucy. "sounds good to me, come on little dragon" "Yay!, time with daddy" she said giggling. Lucy blushed warmly at hearing Layla's heartfelt laugh at spending time with Natsu. They were called in once dinner was ready. Chicken, mashed potatoes, broccoli, white rice was served as they all dug in. "This is great" complimented Natsu. "It was a group effort" said Jellal. "Thank you ladies" he said as Lucy and Erza nodded their head and continued to eat.
"Ice cream!" Layla exclaimed once she was done. "Hold up baby, give your stomach time to settle" urged Lucy as Layla crossed her arms. Laughing but in a mildly serious voice, Natsu said "Layla, mind your mother" "Sorry daddy" she apologized. A little while later, Layla was ecstatic when she got her ice cream and was falling asleep soon after. "Erza, can you drop us off at home? Lucy asked quietly as Natsu picked her up and placed her head on his shoulder putting his hand behind her head. "We got a sleepy one here" whispered Natsu. " I'll get you guys home" said Erza. They both whispered goodbye Jellal who nicely waved goodbye to them as they left and got dropped off. Gently putting her into the bed, Natsu and Lucy very lightly gave her a kiss on her forehead to which she unconsciously smiled at them making them blush. They walked and got into their bed as they fell asleep happy. The day passed the next day then it was the day of Lucy's show. She was up and moving that morning. "Lucy!, you gotta slow down baby damn" he urged strongly with some humor. "I have a lot to to. I love you Layla. Have a good day baby" She said as Layla ran by them. "Bye daddy!" she yelled as she went through. "See you later!" he yelled happily "Remember what we talked about!" "I will" she said as she got on the bus. "what was that about?" Lucy asked "It's nothing Lucy, she had been having trouble at school" "Trouble?, what kind of trouble, she only just started school" Walking over, he grabbed her hands and pulled them down from her face. "First, relax Lucy your spazzing over nothing..and second after you cut me off. Some kids were giving her a hard time, I talked to her to deal with that" "But she didn't say anything too…whats with that face?" "Because as I told her yesterday, the both of you suck at lying to me" he laughed as Lucy gave a hurt expression. "I'm sorry. I'm sure she was going to say something, I just got there before she had a chance okay?" he said apologetically. "Yeah..I'm really happy she has you to talk too Natsu" "You both do, always" he said softly as he kissed her forehead.
"Shit, why am I standing here, I gotta go" she said frantic as she slipped her hands out of Natsu's grip. "Where you off too now?" "I gotta get my hair done, check with the guys that's everything is good then later I'm meeting with Levy. We will pick her up and drive to the show together since its after she gets out" she said quickly. "Ohhkay haha , well let me give you a kiss before you " he said as he planted a loving kiss on her making her ankles go weak. She narrowed her eyes at him as he released. "you did that on purpose" she said lightly. "Heh, what if I did" "Hmmm" she grunted annoyed. "If I had the time, I would make you pay for that right now" she said as she threw her purse over her. "Don't forget you still need to pay for what you said earlier…just go baby. I'll see you at the show, I love you" he told her nicely. "Love you too!" she said cheerfully as she quickly shut the door and got into her car. Time passed quickly as Lucy waited to get her hair done then it was her turn. She went with a French braid bun with some hair hanging down. "It looks wonderful. Thank you!" she said to her hairdresser as she paid for her cut and ran off the door. "Okay, I'll call Jellal quick, make sure the guys are together before I head over" she said as she pulled her phone out to call. "Hey Jellal, everything good so far? , do you guys know all the cords?. Awesome, I'll be coming with Levy and Layla to the show so just look for her when we come. I can't wait guys, see you later!" she hung up ecstatic as she went to take a step when a huge arm wrapped his arm around her throat. "Hey!, let me,,hhmph" She tried to yell before her mouth was covered with a cloth She tried to fight him off but all she saw was black dots as she felt herself going to sleep. She fell limp as she was picked up and carried to a car.
Natsu and Erza were waiting backstage with the guys. "So how was Lucy this morning?" Gray asked. "Pumped as usual, woman was spazzing like crazy" Natsu replied amused. "Ha she barely got to kiss Layla this morning running for the bus" "Dang" said Gray. "I love it though, she's passionate about her music and doesn't let anything get in the way of that." "Agreed" they all replied in unison. "Shouldn't she..be here about now?" Natsu said curious. "yeah. Come to think of it" said Jellal. "Hey guys!" They all turned their heads to see Levy walking up to them with a smile and Layla right next to her. "Hey Levy, how are you?" Erza asked. "I'm great!, just little sad I didn't get to meet up with Lucy" "HUH?" they all said surprised. "What do you mean you didn't get to meet up with her?" asked Natsu alarmed. "Yeah, we were supposed to meet up at my house and ride together to get Layla but she never showed up so I assumed she might of changed her mind but it was odd she wouldn't have called me first." "Hi daddy!" "Hi Layla" he said gently trying to stay calm as she hugged him. "Was school better today?" "Yes, they left me alone" "That's great sweetheart" "Daddy, where's mommy?" "That's a good question" his voice tinted with worry. "It's not like her to miss a show" said Gajeel. "Absolutely not" Natsu said firmly. "These shows mean everything to her, no way in hell she would miss one" "So that leaves one question" "Where is my wife"
Very groggily, Lucy turned her head left and right trying to wake up. She tried to get her hand to her eyes to rub them but she realized they wouldn't reach. As her body became more awake, she opened her eyes fully once she saw her hands were tied. "What the hell!" she thought panicked as she tried to scream but saw her mouth was gagged. She tried to loosed the ropes on her hands. "Where the fuck am I!" she thought as her eyes darted around to look where she was. She was in what looked like a basement and tied down to a table. "Your awake" her eyes directed to where the voice came from. " I was wondering when you would come too" said a calm , soft spoken voice which freaked her out all the more as she tried again to get herself loose. "I wouldn't try that, your not going anywhere" he said chuckling lightly as he walked up and took the gag of her mouth. "Who the hell are you!" she yelled at him as he just smiled. "Do you know who I am!" she yelled as he slapped her across the face. "I know exactly who you are, your Lucy Heartfilia. A middle class tramp" "Wrong, you stupid bastard, I am Lucy Dragneel. My husband is Natsu Dragneel of the Magnolia Mafia. He's going to kill you" she snapped at him. "Who are you!" she asked again. "Give it a minute, I'm sure it will sink in" She looked at him trying to think hard who he could possibly be then it hit her. "There's nnno…wwayyy" she stuttered getting scared. "Who am I?" "Zeref" "Ahh, so you are smart, yes and I am aware you are married to my half-brother" "Then are you really stupid enough to have kidnapped me! Your brother will hunt until he finds me and then your screwed" she said with a confident smile.
"No, he won't, he'll never find you" he said bluntly as he walked over to a rolled up mat and unrolled it making Lucy look with terror as she saw all kinds of knives and sharp objects. "Wwwhat are you ddoing?" she asked trembling. "You are second rate at best, nowhere near what is expected of a high class wife" he replied calmly as he pulled a knife out. "You really are like your mother" she said smug as he walked over to her. "Speaking of which, where is my mother?" "I don't know" she said spiteful. "Wrong answer" he said as he slashed her right on her arm making her scream in pain. "I don't know!" she yelled through heavy breathing. "Hmmm" was all he said as he sliced her other arm. "What are you doing!?" " I am going to make you look so ugly Natsu will never want to touch you again" he sounded so confident freaking her out. "It will never work, Natsu will always love me" she thought hard to herself. "I just need to hold myself together..AHHHHHHHHHHHH" she screamed as he sliced her right on her stomach. "Do me a favor..keep on screaming because we aren't even close to being done" he said laughing.