Sunlight streamed through the small port hole, illuminating the little cabin. Happy was hopping round the rug, pouncing on a stray sock. Two figures lay on the bed holding each other tight. Lucy stared blearily up at Natsu, as he pressed her to his chest. She laid her head back down curled up against him and smiled, soaking up his warmth. Wait what am I doing? Her eyes snapped back open. Friends don't hug like this!...You were both emotional. She told herself. You can let this go, it's not a big deal…But what if he thinks we've started something, oh God! Her mind continued to race as the other body stirred.

"Mornin Luce. I haven't slept that good in a while."

He looked at her face. She gave him a small smile. He frowned, making her sweat drop.

"Christ Luce, it's like I can feel you thinking, what's up?" He ran a hand through her hair, causing her to freeze and leap out of bed.

"It's nothing, I wasn't thinking at all," Lucy sang, grabbing some clothes and rushing into the washroom.

Rolling his eyes, Natsu sat up and ruffled his pink hair. Sighing contentedly he tickled Happy's stomach, stroking the soft white fur. Even though last night had been stressful, he definitely felt closer to Lucy. She was the first person he'd ever told the full truth to and she had told him the full truth about her too. He smiled despite her weirdness and slight violent tendencies, he got that fuzzy feeling in his chest when she smiled at him, making his heart pound. Oh Lord Luce... I think I'm falling for you. Lucy emerged from the washroom, wearing a blue skirt and bodice with a white shirt and a dark blue coat. Natsu smiled, watching her strap her belt with her sword and pistol to her waist. Her face was calm, her eyes weren't red any more from crying and she seemed at peace after yesterday. She was lining her coat with small knives when Erza burst through the door.

"Oh Lucy. You're up."

Lucy nodded and smiled.

"Captain Makarov would like to see you..."

Lucy stiffened a bit, and followed Erza out the door, her hands clasped in front of her.

Lucy stared down at her feet, as Makarov and Laxus watched her.

"I just wanted to talk to you about your mother." Makarov placed his weathered face in his hands, tears leaking onto the desk.

Lucy looked taken aback.

"I'm sorry," Makarov whispered, wiping his eyes with a large orange handkerchief.

"It just brings back all these memories… I-I don't know where to begin." Sighing he regained his composure. Lucy sat down in the chair opposite the desk.

"Your mother was a member of Fairy Tail when she young. Her family died in an accident and I took her in. She was like a daughter to me…" Makarov pulled out a large spotty handkerchief and dabbed away the fresh tears, trickling down his face.

"The resemblance with your mother is uncanny." Tears leaked in the wrinkles of his face as he smiled, Laxus patted him on the shoulder.

"We were going to tell you last night, but you found out the truth in the worst circumstances. I am truly sorry for that." He sighed and continued.

"Your mother was a lovely person. She often cared for Laxus when his father Ivan, was away. Unfortunately I haven't spoken with Ivan since he tried to stage a mutiny."

Laxus smiled at Lucy. "Your mum was the best, teaching me how to throw knives and shoot a pistol, she was like the mother I never had…"

Makarov continued, "She often sent me letters, after I let her go and marry your father. During the purge I wrote to her every day, telling her of the comrades we lost. She stopped writing back after Grandine had died."

Lucy remembered when her mother had locked herself in her room and cried for two days, while a nine-year-old Lucy soothed her, and comforted her; confused as to why her mother was so devastated.

"The last letter she sent to me arrived two days after she died... I've kept it. I think you should have it." Makarov sniffed and handed Lucy the yellowed parchment.

She looked down and read her mother's elegant writing.

Dear Makarov

I won't be a part of this world much longer. He knows the truth. He is going to kill me, I know it. Don't rescue me, you'll only endanger Lucy. I'll finally pay for my crimes against the crown and die a pirate of Fairy Tail to the end.

Know that I love you with all my heart and I can never thank you enough for looking after me all these years. I know these words can never make up for me leaving you all but I hope that you can forgive me. Send Laxus my love and look after him. I know his father never will.

The child I am sending this with is the son of an infamous corsair, so he can be trusted in the future!

If you ever get the chance to meet Lucy, please take her away from him. I know after I am gone, she will suffer and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

After I killed Jiemma, I hid my most prized treasure on Tenrou Island. I bequeath this to Lucy, the best gift this life has ever given me. Once seven years have passed go find the treasure and give it to Lucy. It is my final parting gift to her. I am always watching over her , I love her so much even in death.

My love ,always.

Layla x

Tears splashed on the parchment, mingling with the faded ink. Lucy looked up at Makarov.

"Is that why we are headed to Tenrou?"

"Yes my dear. It's believed to be part of Jiemma's treasure. But I think she hid her sword there."

Lucy looked puzzled, "why her sword."

Makarov sighed and rested his elbows on the desk, "When I took your mother in, she had one possession with her that she refused to part with. It was a sword that had been passed down her family for generations, but that wasn't the only thing that made it special. It was the Urano Metria blade, made from metal found in a comet 400 years ago."

"How was a sword that old still decent to use?"

Makarov chuckled, "That's what I thought when Layla told me. The metal the sword was made from was unbreakable, even when it was heated; it never rusted and it never had to be sharpened. It could cut through anything and was perfectly balanced."

"So it's the perfect sword?"

"Yes it's the perfect sword," Makarov smiled.

Lucy paused in thought. "Minerva said something about a cursed blade…d-do you think she meant the Urano Metria?"

Makarov clasped his hands in thought and nodded. "I think it is very possible. If anything I believe Minerva will travel to Tenrou too, To get her hands on that sword that killed her father."

Lucy bit her lip and nodded in agreement.

"It's very poetic isn't it, but sometimes that's just how people seek justice."

Lucy remembered Aquarius talking to her mother about a sword; the last time that Aquarius visited the Heartfilia estate.

9-year-old Lucy lay on the small sofa feigning sleep as she listened to her mamma and her aunty talking. She yawned tucking a cushion under her head.

"Layla…Are you sure you want me to take it?" Aquarius stared at her friend anxiously.

Layla nodded,"Please…it's for the best. You know where to put it… I'm entrusting it to you, you're the only one who can protect it now..."

She didn't know whether to tell Makarov just yet, it was only a memory.

She dismissed the thought and asked, "Who is the Navy correspondent?"

Makarov chuckled heartily; "Well he is actually a childhood friend of Erza." Erza's face turned the colour of her hair.

"I believe you met him on the HMS Comet, he has a rather distinctive tattoo."

"Jellal?"

"Yes," Makarov smiled.

"But then why did you attack the ship?"

"Well we don't make it a habit to know all of the naval shipping routes, this would create suspicion and endanger those who send us information… But don't worry Jellal and Captain Ur and Ultear are alive and well, they took a life boat with survivors back to Hargeon."

"Who reported my kidnap then? Did they tell my father?"

Makarov huffed and shuffled uncomfortably in his chair. "No…Natsu may have angered an Officer…Straight, I believe. Natsu fought him before you came up on deck. It appears Natsu failed to finish the job…"

Lucy frowned. That creep! I hope his injuries got infected!

Makarov continued. "Your mother had many friends in the Navy, when the treaty for peace was being written, she gained a few sympathisers who believed they could work with the pirates; particularly the Milkovich family. We send them letters occasionally, but I haven't met them in years, it would compromise their safety, especially if your father goes on another rampage."

Lucy face fell. "We don't blame you for what he has done, you were only a child. I-I'm just glad we found you aboard the Comet" Makarov said kindly.

"Thank you gramps," Lucy smiled and hugged the old man tight, lifting him easily off the floor.

There was a scuffling sound outside the door. "You can come in now Natsu." Said Makarov raising his bushy eyebrows.

Laxus opened the door and Natsu face-planted onto the rug.

"Ow!… hey what are you!-"

Laxus picked him up and pointed at him threateningly; "Since you eavesdropped on this conversation, I hope you gathered that Lucy is under mine and Gramps protection. Got it! So if you do anything to her, you've got to answer to me!"

Natsu trembled slightly and squeaked; "yeah…s-sure…you got it."

"Come on Laxus put him down," Lucy crossed her arms and tapped her boot on the floor impatiently.

Laxus dropped Natsu unceremoniously on the floor, earning another cry of pain.

"By guys see you later!" Lucy yelled as she walked out the door, dragging a grumpy Natsu behind her.

Makarov smiled, brightly rivalling the sun light streaming through the large window behind him.