My twin brother destroyed my internet key and ruined everything for me, it still kind of functioned but the others took it upon themselves to throw it away. (I am not happy.)

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

—Mahatma Gandhi

Layla's favorite quote one that she quoted every time I felt down and alone in our earlier years before we were stuck together at the heart, now that I am alone always I remember it often, and understand it wholly and solemnly.

her voice like silk plays in my memory so often, I wish I could have forgotten and moved on, but I don't want to let her go, I feel if I do she will really be gone.

I remember and I can't help but keep everything about her locked away preciously in my memories. That woman held the key to my heart and she took it with her when she went away all I have to do is wait for her and surely we will meet again I know this in my soul. I know I am incapable of loving again and I will never try all I have to do is patiently wait till I meet her again.

"I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing." -Herman Melville Another favorite of hers' one she ultimately lived by and taught our daughter to live by as well, I feel so ashamed I know she would be angry with me and ask me why I left our daughter to fend for herself.

I don't know..I don't know maybe I needed to be away from my precious little girl because she looked so much like my love who passed that it hurt my heart.

That wasn't an excuse and I know my darling will be angry for awhile. I have to learn the truth about what happened seven years ago..who tricked me with a simple text to my phone, why did I fall for it? I have to know before it rips my conscious apart even more and sets it alight.

What was I thinking? Why did I leave my sweet baby girl, my own flesh, and blood, my final angel alone in this jungle-like world? Can I still set things straight? these thoughts will be the death of me if I don't find all the answers.

Jude often dreamed about stressing matters that always woke him up, and again today he opens his eyes to darkness, He is up too early.

Jude sat up in his bed in his borrowed room and looked around at the items that had now become familiar to him. His eyes traced a glass trophy that somehow glistened in the dark room, memories spilled out of him at every familiar thing he witnessed, this he remembered was presented to Lucy when she won first place in a children's disease awareness contest that tested their knowledge of common diseases and how one should respond to it as well as the symptoms of the sickness.

Feeling suddenly awakened at the thought that Lucy was coming to work her first day at his hospital, He slid from his bed, showered and turned on the lights.

Of course, Plue was just as excited when he opened the door, it was nothing like greeting the early mornings with bites from Plue, this time around the puppy was surprised when he was caught mid-pounce, petted and placed near his food bowl. distracted by the beef and chicken kibble Plue decided since the food was waiting for him all this time, he would let Jude's legs rest just for today but he would get him later.

Jude slunk towards the kitchen in search of cold water, waking up so early and shutting down so late was going to take it's toll on him eventually he would sleep his entire day off that he knew for sure.

surprised to hear humming in the kitchen so early he looked 'round the corner to see Lucy giddily preparing a big breakfast and a tiny lunch, the one in which he heard her promise her 'husband' the previous night. he recognized the song she sang as ''Build me up buttercup'' a classic her mother always sang while picking you guessed it buttercups.

''What are you doing here Lucille?'' he asked hoarsely reaching for the water-filled pitcher. ''Oh my!'' she jumped and waved her spatula wildly at him. ''You scared me! I thought you were a ghost,'' she said returning to her spicy scrambled eggs.

''What business would ghosts have with you?'' he chuckled pouring a glass and taking a seat to watch his over the top daughter. ''Do you want biscuits?'' she asked popping them into the oven. ''I don't mind.'' Jude gazed out the window at the dark that was probably thick with fog sipping the vanilla scented coffee that was placed in front of him. ''It rained the other night,'' Lucy said calling him back to reality before he drifted too far. ''Oh it did?'' Jude didn't turn his head instead he wiped dull tears from the corners of his eyes something he always did when feeling the differences when his life was with Layla.

deep down inside he wanted to embrace her one last time, he blamed himself as the operating surgeon for her death though she didn't pass during surgery but shortly after, In all actuality there was nothing he did wrong during the surgery and nothing could stop her from passing away, but he still held it in his heart that it was his own fault..maybe if I had scheduled the surgery earlier she would still be here with me.

Lucy tightly hugged her father catching him off guard and unintentionally flinging him into his thoughts of loneliness. ''There is nothing we could have done a million times over papa.'' He covered his eyes with one hand that still possessing the wedding ring he never would take off. ''I'll never tell you to forget her because I never will, but know it was never your fault.'' Lucy held back her tears for the sake of comforting her father and in this early morning before the sun could peek from its fluffy blankets among the clouds they found solace with each other.

Lucy kept her eyes on Jude sharing breakfast for the first time with him, he felt embarrassed for crying bitterly in front of his daughter but she didn't see his reason for being ashamed. he held his head downward eating fruit, eggs, and biscuits. in that moment he thought of a quote he read when he was a young boy. To a father growing old, nothing is dearer than a daughter. —Euripides, It couldn't apply to him any more than it did right now.

finishing her breakfast Lucy rose from her seat patting Jude's shoulder and going to wake Natsu who would be salty if she left without waking him, despite all the times he did it to her.

''Natsu..'' she made her way into his dreams with her whispers making him hold the blanket tighter and lean into the sound of wind rustling gently through tired trees and plucking them of their heavy leaves. ''hmm?'' he responded still sound as sleep much like a big baby. Lucy stroked his pink locks making him wonder whether he should wake up or seep further into his sleep.

''Natsu are you going to sleep forever?'' I can hear Lucy calling my name, but I want to sleep longer. I don't want to wake up right now later...

Natsu stirred in his sleep, Lucy was pinching slightly and Happy was purring from his place on Natsu's hips. ''Happy go eat or something.'' the cat lazily winked at Lucy. ''No this is perfect.'' ''I bought you fish.'' he seemed to understand that as he hopped off of the boy's sore hips and made his way to his bowl to enjoy. ''Natsu I'll leave without waking you first.'' she threatened but tried again this time just diving onto him, a mistake as she was instantly jailed by his arms that brought her dangerously close to his face.

she squealed on contact and wiggled around trying to escape his binding arms, he only groaned lightly making her stop her movement to see if he was awake. 'Wait why am I being cautious I want him to wake up?' she thought to her-self beginning to wiggle her way out of his embrace.

sighing loudly she turned to opening the curtains, opening the windows, and letting streaks of golden sunlight bathe his face, he replied by rolling over much to her distress.

she ran around the bed and sat on her knees to look into his face and mentally wake him up, it worked he opened his sleep filled eyes that looked lighter in color than normal because of the golden light that flooded the room as if he wasn't breathtaking enough a cool breeze ran through the room swaying his feathery soft locks of cupid colored hair, her breath hitched in her lungs.

Lucy felt her heart melt into her stomach like sweet fondue when Natsu said 'good morning Luce' he was dangerous and out to kill her with all that he was, his morning voice was just many of his additional deadly edges.

''Yes?'' he asked sitting up and patting the top of her head. ''Why are you crouching here?'' he stared into her eyes like he knew it was her pick of poison. ''I was trying to wake you up!'' he voice cracked when she stood up, Natsu giggled and held her elbows for support. ''I didn't want to leave without waking you up.'' she declared turning to leave. ''I ate without you.'' ''Why did you do this to me Luce!?'' he gasped dramatically, she smiled he was still the same goof before and after he woke up but that didn't take his beauty away from him.

Natsu looked defeated watching Jude and Lucy walk out the door, Jude dressed in a simple black suit and tie and Lucy in a baby pink pantsuit and white coat swinging her childish lunch box and pink thermos.

she was excited to work in the pediatric ward again but nervous to work with new people. Natsu continued eating only happy because she had the phone chain he bought her attached. for some reason, he felt intoxicated by happiness as soon as he woke up and it was following him intently.

Lucy ran for her car eager to get out of the cold as perching birds sang and squirrels scolded her for scaring them, the sun was warm but not enough.

the skies were clear so fog was not present as Jude thought. Lucy hopped inside of her car making up her mind to stop at the store quickly to buy a coat for her block-headed dad, who didn't seem to feel the cold. whilst driving Lucy thought to herself 'How does Natsu get away with being so handsome all the time? How didn't he have fans worldwide?'

she couldn't shake the image of his full lips as he spoke, they were almost as pink as his hair and they always looked kissable. 'Oh My what am I thinking!?' she blushed while she was caught up in his 'sheer perfection' Jude had entered the car and was staring at her waiting to leave.

gripping the wheel tightly she began to pull out of the snow covered driveway, Natsu watched leaves and hazelnuts scrape the pavement as they flew after Lucy's car begging her to stay longer.

he bit into freshly baked bread and went back inside to get his things together, he wasn't returning to the hospital because he had been given a leave to get all of his things ready to fly out to the first company in 18 days.

Natsu unlocked his own apartment door for the first time in so long and looked around the blackened room, before dragging his camping luggage bag inside.

he began folding seasonal clothes, socks, and his father's scarf and placing it securely into the bag alongside shavers and journals.

Natsu stretched to release the knot in his muscles, he wished stretching would release the knot of stress in his heart but it was to no avail as he slumped down to the floor, curled up and laid his head on his bag.

''I don't want to leave you,'' he said out loud his eyes began to brim with tears, he could hear his own heartbeat pounding away as he clutched his heart and wiped his tears away. ''I love you so much,'' he confessed for no one to hear but Plue and Happy who came to meet him across the hall rubbing their heads on his hanging hand.

''I shouldn't be crying like this right?'' he asked the animals who purred and wagged a little white tail in reply.

Natsu wondered how he would explain this to Lucy he had to eventually, it wasn't like he could just fade away and return the next day. It was just so hard and besides he was afraid that if he faded away, she would not wait for him to return. he didn't want to see her cry.

''Let's go guys.'' he said grabbing his bag and walking into Lucy's apartment to finish packing things, the animals followed him back and watched him feed the guppies that were off limits to them.

Natsu didn't tell Lucy he was not working at the hospital and that he was on a leave, she thought he was going to work every day but it was back and forth to the gym and the store for supplies like water bottles and medical kits.

He would be supplied with things to treat people as he went along the plains of the earth but just in case, he sat down to carve a quote into the bark of an old tree outside hoping that when he went away Lucy would gain strength every time she looked at it:

"The future bears down upon each one of us with all the hazards of the unknown. The only way out is through." -Plutarch Maybe she would be angry every time she looked at it especially on her birthday, he wouldn't forget to mail her a present if that's what she would like.

What Natsu didn't understand was Lucy didn't care for presents as much as any other girl would, she only wanted him by her side.

That was enough to keep her happy for all the years to come.

''Seriously? we could have been there already.'' Jude grumbled watching Lucy look through winter coats in the male section. ''Well if you didn't run out without a coat, we could have.'' Lucy decided on a black wool coat and went to pay.

Jude was kind of touched she went through even the slightest of trouble to take care of him. ''I like this one on you because of the yellow buttons.'' she adjusted her white coat and jumped back into the car starting it up in the direction of, Red Charm Hospital that was named after the peony red charm flower a rather majestic looking crimson plant. ''Why is the hospital named the way it is?'' she asked the founder''I was inspired by an old friend,'' he said simply leaving the car and placing his hands into his pockets walking towards his hospital.

Lucy ran to catch up grabbing hold of his arm and walking beside him cheerfully. ''what color are the scrubs?'' she asked excitedly her eyes shining into his. ''Pastel pink,'' he said smiling ahead, it was that way because her favorite color was pink that he knew plus she shared the love for pink with her mother so it was a win-win.

''And the hospital gowns?'' she curious as to what the patients wore and what color it was. ''Pastel purple for women and pastel green for men young and old.'' he sighed as the automatic doors opened it was Layla's dream, he just achieved it for her.

heads turned towards the door when Jude stepped in with a wide-eyed blonde clinging to his arm, she let go and Jude walked to the front desk. ''When she stops gazing around escort her to my office will you?'' ''Yes sir.'' the security by the front desk replied watching her spin around the citrus orange hospital.

she began to walk off to go check the OR and waiting rooms when she was stopped. ''The chairman wishes to see you.'' a guard intimidated her at first until she realized it was her old friend's father Gildarts Clive, she also remembered the chairman was her father so she was no longer agitated.

Lucy began walking with him towards her father's office whilst watching in awe doctors and nurses whisk by. ''So how is Cana?'' like a trigger word Gildarts set off to gush about his daughter and the dangers she was getting herself into joining the police force. ''She followed after Evergreen's example despite my displeasure, she only listens to her mother!'' Lucy listened intently all the while thinking 'I know Cana she will be alright.'

Lucy hopped into the office and looked around at all of the coffee colored objects, Jude sat signing papers and looking over documents in a lab coat.

ahem! she cleared her throat garnering his attention and an old man who was present. ''Here this was for you.'' she placed his lunch box he forgot with her on the chestnut pine table. ''and this is for you,'' he said handing her a name tag with her name. 'Lucy H. Dragneel' she bashfully took it from him, it was a bit weird to see Dragneel so close to her own name.

''Oh I forgot to introduce someone to you this is my long time friend and Chief Executive Officer Crawford Seam.'' ''Nice to meet you I'm uh Lucy Dragneel.'' she smiled brightly her face tinted pink extending a pale hand. ''Nice to meet you, child.'' Mr. Seam shook her hand. ''My you look familiar like I have seen you somewhere before?'' he looked puzzled receiving a golden picture frame from Jude.

''My beautiful daughter Lucy looks a lot like my late wife.'' ''Oh that's where I've seen this face.'' he squinted at Layla then at Lucy they were a splitting image but you could still tell them apart. probably the looks in their eyes, while Layla had a soft motherly feel to her chocolate eyes, Lucy possessed a happy bubbly look instead.

Crawford looked Lucy over before telling her where to get her scrubs and coat. ''You should meet the children in the pediatric ward and get to know the staff.'' ''Don't forget to learn the format of the hospital!'' Jude called after the excited young woman who had already begun to speed off. ''Sometimes I swear she could have been an Olympic runner.'' he smiled to himself marveling at his energetic daughter. ''If she wanted to do so, I believe she could do much more.'' Crawford agreed.

Natsu sat with a bored look plastered on his face, he was hanging out of Lucy's main window feeling the wind caress his hair and face.

he sniffed the many scents of the air carried including different cuisines and earthy smells, looking at the sky filled with fleeting clouds carrying rain nearby.

he exhaled some of his stress hoping the wind would take it all away. Picking his orange and black phone up to text he looked at the dark blue sky one last time.

''Hey Luce.''

''I want you to stay hydrated.''

she didn't reply immediately so he carried on:

''Eat well and a lot and be careful of rain.''

''Natsu!'' a high voice called up to him making him look down in question.

Romeo Conbolt the boy downstairs and son of Macao a respected doctor was the owner of the voice. ''I got what you requested!'' ''Really?!'' Natsu raced down the stairs to greet the young boy. ''Here I painted it exactly like you asked.''

Romeo handed Natsu a brand new laptop that had a green forest with trees that all had pink and red flowers nestled in their leaves, a sunset hue colored the sky scene bathing raven birds in yellow and light, the clouds in the 'laptop sky' were soft and filled with light rain.

''I love it!'' he hugged Romeo tightly and handed him his pay. ''You are seriously going places with your art.'' Romeo smiled brightly happy to receive praise from his Idol.

It was a laptop he had bought for Lucy so she could write her stories and asked Romeo to customize the boring silver color.

Happy with the product he placed it in a box on her shelf for her to find at a later time.

He already began writing the beginning of her story 'Apple of my eye.' since she wanted to write it together he could dream of the ending and of what type of story it was going to turn out to be.

grabbing his 'jack-o-lantern' as Lucy called it he texted:

''Luce let's go on a trip for three days..like a crazy getaway.''

''Jude comes of course and when we have a day off.''

she replied: ''I would like that very much, let's do it!''

Natsu smiled going over to the door to let Erza inside, she was going to help him bake cookies, he would make the batter and she would bake them as well as helping cook dinner.

she also came to help him finish packing as he was useless and didn't know of everything to pack.

she knew about the trip he would have to take and it hurt her heart and made her angry towards Ivan.

''Hang in there.'' she said walking in with Jellal and patted him on his back.

-End of chapter-

I hope you liked this chapter.

I am struggling with internet because of my sibling and I don't know if my late uncles laptop will survive.