Chapter 7
The next morning Natsu was up and helped Layla get ready for school. Making her lunch, she ate a bowl of cereal as she watched him giggling. "Is something amusing Layla?" he asked "No, just funny watching you make a sandwich." "Why?" " because mommy usually makes them" she answered straight. "Yeah, well mom is sleeping right now so it's dad today" "You stink" she teased. "Yeah , whatever, get your butt upstairs and brush your teeth you weirdo" he told her with a smile as she dumped her bowl in the sink and ran back up the stairs. He shook his head chuckling to himself as he put the bowl in the washer. Running back down, she put her backpack on and said "I'm ready!" enthusiastically. "Ha I see, I see, here take your lunch Layla..oh bus is here" he announced as she ran for the door. "You remember what I said right?! About the man" he yelled out to her. "Yes daddy" she replied as she got on the bus and waved to him. "I LOVE YOU!" she screamed happily. "Love you too! Have a great day baby girl" Shutting the door, he scooted up the stairs as he saw Lucy stretching her arms out. "Morning beautiful" she turned and gave him a heartwarming smile. "Morning" she replied. Stretching his arms, he said "watcha want to do today Luce?, ahh before you answer remember your still healing so that means no gym" She crossed her arms in disappointment and made a face causing Natsu to laugh. "It's not funny!" "Oh yes it is, you dummy ha Lucy, baby your wounds are still way too fresh to do anything like that. It's only been a few days" he explained nicely.
"This sucks" she complained. "Relax Luce, you'll be back at the gym soon enough" he assured. "What about you, you haven't done any mafia business" "Let me worry about that" he said relaxed as he hopped on the bed with his hands behind his head. "Natsu, you're the leader, you shouldn't be he" "Luce, drop it..now" he said serious as he gave her a hard stare to get his point across. Feeling his anger, she turned away and mumbled "sorry" Blowing air, he softened his face as he sat up and reached for her chin turning her back towards him. "I'm sorry baby, look I told you not to worry and that it was mine to deal with. I made it clear I was staying home with you and if anything came up then Erza and the others would tell me" She gave him a look that said she was satisfied with her answer. "Besides, there's no way in hell I am leaving you alone. I did that once and…." He growled feeling his rage immediately as Lucy put her hands over his fists calming him. "I screwed up once, I am not! Doing that again" he said intensely. "But Natsu..you can't keep me hidden forever..I still want to sing" "I know Lucy and I promise you will..soon as zeref is dealt with..but you have to stay safe until then okay? He asked with concern. "Yes, I don't want to worry you further, you've got enough to deal with with the mafia" "Luce.." he sighed as he said "baby I could give a shit about the rest of the world and the people in it. You and Layla are all that matter to me. "Your serious, aren't you?" she asked hearing his tone. He gave her a hard look as he answered "Yes. I'll watch the world burn before I lose you two..because without you Lucy. I don't know what I'd do" she grabbed his hands and squeezed them. "That wont happen Natsu. Me and Layla aren't going anywhere" she said confidently as he grinned at her. His phone started going off as he rolled over to grab it. The caller I.D said Layla as he immediately answered it. "Layla?"
"Daddy" she sounded scared "It's him daddy" "What is it?" Lucy asked concerned. He gave her a phone with his number programed into it before she had started school, but she was only to use it in emergencies. Getting his attention, he walked out of the room so Lucy wouldn't hear. "Layla, baby, do you know where you saw him?" he asked trying to keep his voice calm and not panicked. "Outssside the school" she stuttered. "Daddy..I'm scared" "Layla, listen to me right now and go to your teacher okay? Do not leave her side, I'm on my way right now" he couldn't emphasize more how important it was she listen to him if he tried. "okay ..daddy hurry ppplease" "I'm coming sweetheart" he told her gently as he quickly hung up and went for his boots. "Natsu!, what's wrong!" she asked nervous seeing how serious his face was. "Its nothing, stay here.. Fuck!" he said as he pulled out his phone dialing a number. "Hey, get someone over here Now!, ..I don't fucking care if they are out, GET SOMEONE OVER HERE NOW!" he shouted into the phone. "Natsu…" "Stay here Lucy, I mean it. Don't leave the bedroom" "What's wrong!" "I gotta go Lucy. I'll be back soon" he said as he ran out before she could protest shutting the door as he slid down the stair rail and raced out the door locking it as he jumped into his car and went as fast as he could to get to the school. His phone went off as he answered and put it on speaker. "I swear to fucking god, if there isn't someone at the house, somebody is going to get killed"
"We are on the way now Natsu. What the fuck is going on?" said Erza. "I'm not sure yet. I'll let you know just get your ass to the house" He hung up before anything else could be said. Reaching the school, he ran to where her classroom was as she turned and cried "Daddy!" she sounded terrified as he picked her up. She started crying on his shoulder as he comfortingly said "shhhh, your okay Layla. Daddy's got you" She gripped his shirt hard as she cried. He shushed her again as he rocked her for a minute trying to calm his own racing heart. Breathing hard, he let out a gasp as he held her head as a couple tears went down his cheek. "Are you alright ?" her teacher asked as he spun to face her. "Yyyes I'm fine" he replied stumbling over his words. "Are you sure? Your breathing heavily and Layla was scared of someone" He nodded quickly as he took a second to breathe as he asked "the man that she saw, he didn't come into school grounds did he?" "No he didn't." "Thank goodness" he said relieved as she clung to him. "Your alright baby girl" he said warmly as she turned her face towards him. "You did great" he whispered to her positively as he caught a tiny smile on her face as she buried her face into his shirt making him smile as he rubbed her back. "Mr. Dragneel" his face turned serious as he looked at her teacher.
She was a young girl with blonde hair and glasses. She had an equal serious face as she said "Mr. Dragneel, if you don't mind my asking. Who was that? That she was so afraid of" "He's an enemy. If he comes back again or approaches her. Call me immediately" She nodded as he grabbed her backpack and slung it over his other shoulder as he took her to the car. "NO daddy!" she cried out as he put her down into her carseat. "Baby girl , I can't have you in the front seat with me" she thrashed around as Natsu buckled her in. "Layla! Stop it!" he said sternly getting her attention. "I'll pick you back up when we get home" he told her as he shut her door and got back in the car. He saw how much she wanted him as he looked through the window at her as he drove. "Fucking guy rapes my wife..now he thinks he can after my child. Sorry son of a bitch is going to regret that" he thought angrily as he gripped the wheel hard. They were home after a few minutes as Layla unbuckled her belt and got out of the car as fast as she could before Natsu even had a chance to do anything.
Looking at how fast she zoomed out of her car seat, he unbuckled and opened his door as she jumped at him not letting him get out of the car. "DADDY!" "Shhhhhhh" he said as he managed to get himself out as she clung to him. Readjusting her so she wasn't stuck to his stomach, he lifted her to where her head was on shoulder as he kept his hand on her. "Just gotta grab.. " he strained having difficulty holding her and reaching into the car."aaand .got it. Damn" he straightened himself as he gripped the bag and carried them all inside. "Natsu!" went multiple voices as he walked into the living room to see Erza, Jellal with Gray and Lucy all standing there. " this is more then I expected" he said lightly. "Natsu , what happened?" Erza asked upset. "Layla, baby girl. Are you alright?" asked Lucy tenderly as she walked over to grab her, but she furiously shook her head clinging to his shirt as Natsu shook his head at her. "I wouldn't right now" he advised her. "Answer her question Natsu, it's obvious something spooked Layla or she wouldn't be clinging to you like she is" Gray commanded. "Excuse me?." Lucy took a step back recognizing that tone Natsu was using as she signaled the other two with her eyes as they got the message and stepped back. Dropping the backpack, he adjusted Layla as he looked Gray dead in the face. "the last time I checked, I was the leader here , not you" "I know that Natsu" "So who gives the orders then?" he asked expecting an answer. Gray was silent for a moment as Natsu said "I'm waiting" "tch, you do" he answered spiteful. "EXACTLY IM THE ONE GIVING THE FUCKING ORDERS, YOUR JOB IS TO FOLLOW THEM!" "Nat" "NO YOU DON'T GET TO TALK ,IT'S MY TURN. Do not question me again. Brother or not, I will have you fall in line." Said Natsu belligerent.