Lucy had never seen Cana so nervous and excited before. Not only was Cana more sober that she usually was, but she had borrowed a more conservative, lilac sun dress from Erza and had even let Lucy plait her hair in a waterfall braid.

"You excited to see your dad Cana?" Lucy asked, tucking in some stray locks of the brunette's lustrous hair.

Cana waved her hand dismissively, "Nah…it's just my dad. Everyone's excited to see him…"

Lucy smiled as Cana glanced nervously at her reflection in the mirror.

Levy peered into the mirror, pulling a white bandana over her head. "You know Erza said Quatro Cerberus is coming at the end of the week…will you see Bacchus?"

Cana groaned and slumped on the vanity desk. "My dad'll be here." She absentmindedly flicked one of the earrings in the dish on the desk. "He'll just get in the way and stop any drinking contests we have."

Lucy looked at her puzzled, "I thought you guys weren't romantically involved…?"

Cana blushed and hid her face in her arms, "Well it's not like we aren't, but I don't wanna think we are…"

Levy picked up some beaded bracelets from the vanity drawer and a couple of arm cuffs. "Why not?"

Cana sighed and propped her chin up in her hands, while Lucy added small flower clips to the braid. "Well we're in separate crews and I don't get to see him much," she chuckled, "and he's such a flirt, I mean I don't wanna commit to something and get my heart torn out my chest…not that I'd let him…"

Levy giggled, "Oh please Cana; he stopped flirting as soon as he saw you…"

Lucy pulled out some wisps of hair, to frame Cana's face. "You should talk to him you know."

Cana smirked and stood up and looked in the mirror; pleased with her appearance, she turned and faced the two girls. "You two should take your own advice you know," she wagged a finger at them.

"Particularly you Luce…"

She sauntered off towards the mess hall, leaving a blushing Lucy slumped in the chair before the vanity desk, while Levy chuckled.

"I don't know what you're laughing at Shrimp!"

It was Levy's turn to blush.

It was mid-afternoon when Gildarts arrived at Magnolia Island. Lucy had spent the morning with Natsu and the kids, finishing the tree house. The paint had finally dried and the roof was finish. Lucy had hung up the curtains with Wendy, while Asuka jumped up and down on the bed, rolling herself up in a cocoon of blankets.

Romeo and Natsu climbed the tallest tree on the island armed with telescopes; they sighted Gildart's sloop ship on the horizon. He docked thirty minutes later in a small cove near strawberry lagoon. They watched his hulking figure traipse across the sand, a duffle bag slung over his shoulder and a tricorn hat set jauntily on his head. Lucy came to the conclusion that Gildarts was indeed intimidating, with is wild auburn hair and beard. He was heavily muscled and his arms were clad in a metal armouring with bandages, while a tattered shirt and a black cloak covered his chest. There was a broad sword strapped to his back and he wore a stern look on his face. The crew seemed to be trembling with anticipation, until he saw Cana sitting on the porch of the mess hall, did the intimidating façade shatter into a million pieces.

"Oh Cana! My sweet baby daughter I missed you soo much!" The hulking pirate bent down and squeezed Cana to his chest, happy tears running down his cheeks.

Lucy and Levy snickered, Cana scowled at them.

"Er…I missed you too dad…you can get off me now…"

He didn't and instead pinched her cheeks happily, crying more violently. "Oh you look so beautiful, just like your mother. Did you dress up for me?"

"No." Cana said flatly, crossing her arms.

Gildarts face darkened, "Are you dressing up for that…slimeball from Quatro Puppy."

Mira and Lisanna joined in Lucy and Levy's chuckling.

"No. Daad…he's not even here…"

Gildarts seemed pleased and pulled Cana close for another hug. "Good, cos if he even breaths the same air as you I'm gonna tear off his…"

Cana cringed, "yeah, yeah dad. I got the picture…"

Gildarts turned to the other girls on the porch, "Hi girls, have you seen…"

"Gildarts! Come and fight me!" Natsu leapt of the Mess hall roof and dived, head-first at the older pirate.

Gildarts smirked and swatted Natsu away, like he was a pesky fly. He crashed onto the sand, creating a small crater in the beach. Lucy winced, looking at Natsu's legs poking out of the dunes.

She got up and huffed, "well serves him right."

She padded over to his crumpled body, partially hidden in the sand.

"What were you thinking Natsu?" She poked his leg with her toe.

"Whhyyy-adddim, f-furrr shuuuree!" came the muffled reply.

Lucy rolled her eyes, grabbed his legs and tugged them hard. Natsu popped out of the crater, coughing out sand.

"Eurrgghh! Luce I've got sand all in my teeth and my hair and everywhere…" He scratched his head furiously, shaking his pink-locks.

He patted his trousers. "It's even in my…"

Lucy blushed, embarrassed. "Yes...ok...just go wash off all the sand..."

He crawled towards her, grabbing hold of her leg. "Luceee…can you help me wash the sand out of my hair?"

She growled at him. "NO! I pulled you out of that crater, idiot, and you're old enough to wash your hair, yourself."

Natsu pouted, "Fine."

Lucy rolled her eyes as he stropped down the beach, pulled off his shirt and face-planted stubbornly in the sea.

Gildarts chuckled, leaning against the beam of the porch, watching the scene.

"So Natsu actually grew a pair and got a girlfriend?"

Cana shook her head, "No, that's Lucy, Layla's daughter, didn't Gramps say?"

Gildarts looked taken aback. "Yeah, but I didn't realise. Christ she really looks like Layla," He chuckled darkly. "Natsu's a lucky boy…"

Cana grimaced. "Ew! Dad their not together…God your soo embarrassing. I need a drink…"

Gildarts sadly watched her walk away.

Laxus walked out onto the porch, "Had a nice trip Gildarts?"

Gildarts smirked, "yeah, just the usual."

"Gramps wants to see you…"

"I'll be right there."

He laughed, watching Lucy speed away from Natsu, when he tried to hug, drenched in sea water.

"That boy needs to hurry up ya know."

Laxus chuckled and crossed his arms, "I told him that last night, but God knows what the kid's thinking sometimes."

Lucy had managed to scale a palm tree and was throwing coconuts at Natsu while he dodged them below her, cackling wildly. Laxus and Gildarts laughed when a coconut hit Natsu's head and Lucy leapt down from the tree, apologising profusely. When Natsu didn't respond she grabbed his shoulders and began slapping him round the face, demanding that he wake up. When he did, he tackled Lucy onto the sand and pulled her over his shoulder, running towards the sea.

Makarov greeted Gildarts with a smile. "Nice to see you've joined us Gildarts."

"Same here old man."

Makarov chuckled, grinning. "When are you going to let me retire and take over as Captain of Fairy Tail?"

Gildarts laughed uncomfortably and tossed his tri-corn hat on the desk. "You must be on opium Gramps. I love you guys an all but, I'm not gonna be Captain any time soon."

Makarov slumped on the desk, and smiled wanly.

"I'm more of a lone wolf. No one can tie me down."

The occupants of the office deadpanned, as Gildarts smirked.

Makarov coughed, hiding his sniggering. "Anyway…I wanted to ask about what you know, regarding Admiral Heartfilia."

Gildarts frowned and sat down on the chair opposite the desk. He scratched his beard and paused in thought.

"I was in my sloop a couple of weeks ago, when a small navy ship caught up with me. They knew I'm a Fairy Tail pirate and attacked, yada, yada. I beat them up easy."

Makarov raised his bushy eyebrows incredulously.

Gildarts snorted. "What there were only like thirty…Anyway, when they'd had their asses handed to them, I started asking questions and they were only more than willing…"

"Get to the point old man."

A vein pulsed in Gildart's forehead, and he pointed a finger threateningly at Laxus. "Now listen here kid and listen good. I risked my life getting this info for you, so don't be an ungrateful ass!"

Laxus rolled his eyes and muttered under his breath. Gildarts scowled at him and continued.

"Those navy brats told me they were under specific orders to look for Fairy Tail pirates. We've all got a death warrant on our heads…even Romeo and Wendy. It was a special order from Heartfilia himself. I threatened them a bit and those little pips started squeaking that if Heartfilia didn't have his daughter in a month, He would join the search himself…"

Makarov crumpled up a piece of paper violently on the desk; his dark beady, eyes coursing with anger.

"That bastard!" Makarov smacked his fists on the desk, creating large cracks in the wood.

Laxus, leant over the desk. "Come on Gramps…we have enough time. We've just got to get back to Edolas…"

Gildarts stood up and shrugged his cloak off his broad shoulders. "Don't stress yourself out old man…I'll tell Layla's daughter. You wait here…"

"I can't believe you did that Natsu!" Lucy yelled, wringing out the ends of her damp dress.

After Natsu had woken up from his coconut induced unconsciousness, he had decided that it would be a good idea to chuck Lucy into the sea as a form of justice. The mastermind himself was now lazily propped up against a swaying palm tree, a roughish grin on his face.

"It was only fair Luceee," he winked. "You hit me with some coconuts."

"It was a coconut, moron!" Lucy huffed, shaking her damp dress.

"Seeing as you can't count, you clearly have a concussion. And here I was thinking you couldn't go any pottier in the head!"

Natsu stood up scowling. "Hey! Watch it Luce…"

"I think you should watch it kid…"

Natsu looked up, shocked at Gildarts appearance.

"Never challenge an angry woman," he chuckled. "That's something I learned from experience."

Natsu frowned, muttering and turned to kick the palm tree. Lucy smiled smugly when he stubbed his toe and keeled over on the sand.

"Do you mind repeating that for him, I don't think he'll ever learn that lesson."

Gildarts, chuckled surveying the petite girl, with long golden hair; (that was slightly damp), big brown eyes and a light dusting of freckles on her nose. He gulped; it hurt how much she looked like Layla, almost made him feel twenty years younger.

Lucy looked concerned at the man's soft smile; he looked like he was going to cry.

"Is there something the matter Sir…I mean Gildarts...?"

She chuckled nervously and tugged at a strand of her blonde hair.

"Oh…right," he scratched his rough stubble sheepishly. "We just found out we have a month until your Dad's gonna make an appearance."

Gildarts watched the girl, go very pale; her lips pressed in a thin line.

He patted her on the shoulder. "I'm sorry Lay-Lucy."

She shrugged, "it's ok. It's not your fault. I guess it was only a matter of time…"

"Wha…" Lucy stared at Gildarts as he pinched her cheeks.

"Wow…sorry…you just really look like Layla." He grinned prodding her cheeks, while Lucy just stood there, mouth agape.

Gildarts heard a growling sound to his left. Natsu frowned at him, his hands folded across his bare chest. He smiled at the boy sheepishly.

"Easy kid. Just couldn't help myself…I guess…"

Natsu swatted Gildarts hands away and put his arm around Lucy fixing the man with a stony gaze. Lucy patted his chest soothingly and frowned, making Natsu blush and look away sheepishly.

"…I knew your mum when I was your age…we were friends."

Lucy waved her hand. "No, no don't worry. I've been getting that a lot lately."

"Sorry Gramps didn't tell you himself. He's a bit stressed out right now. He's not as young as he used to be…"

Natsu nodded. "Why don't you become Captain, Gildarts. You'd be much cooler than Laxus."

Gildarts barked with laughter. "Ha…Ha…I've already told Gramps that's never gonna happen."

"Well, why not?"

Gildarts sighed and scratched his beard again. "You kids are a blast an all, but I work alone…"

"So you're afraid of commitment then?" Lucy piped up.

When she realised what she said, she clapped a hand to her mouth while Natsu chuckled at Gildarts's dumbfounded face.

"You hit the nail on the head there Luce…"

Gildarts shuffled his boots in the sand and mumbled. "Whatever. Look I'll leave you kids to it…"

"Oh! Gildarts…what are Lamia Scale and Quatro Cerberus like?"

Gildarts turned slowly to face the two teens, a tick on his forehead. "Why'd you ask?"

Lucy stared warily at his tense expression and continued, "Well their joining us at the end of the week-"

"WHAT!?"

Lucy and Natsu stared wide-eyed at the panicking pirate who was now tugging furiously at his beard.

"I've gotta run," Gildarts growled. "And I've got to talk to my daughter about a certain slimeball."

Then he dashed away, leaving behind a cloud of sand.

Lucy shrugged, "well that wasn't helpful at all…"

"You could've asked me…"

Lucy scowled at Natsu, "when I did you just started giggling you moron."

Natsu giggled, making Lucy frown. "What? I just want it to be a surprise…"

Lucy pinched his arm and stalked away. "Hey Luce!…Wait up!"

"You didn't tell me he was coming!"

Cana sat lazily at the bar, draining a barrel of rum. "I didn't have to and I don't get why it's such a big deal."

Gildarts was practically removing his beard with his fists in his frustration.

"Listen baby girl. That slimeball is bad news, I've said it time and ti-"

"Yeah! I know!" Cana chucked the empty barrel on the floor and placed her hands on her hips. "I'm a grown ass woman dad and I don't care what you think!"

Cana fixed him with a frosty glare as she picked up another barrel. "We just drink dad, that's it, nothing more, nothing less."

"Oh yeah…" Gildarts crossed his arms and leaned over his daughter. "Do you know how I found out that he wanted to marry you?"

Cana shook her head, "Macao told ya…right?"

Gildarts shook his head violently and clenched his fists. "NO! That drunkard asked me himself, all proper an everything."

Cana dropped her barrel; golden liquid pooled onto the tiled floor, as she stared at her father pale with shock, a faint blush on her cheeks.

"HE WHAT!?"

"You heard me…he asked for my permission to marry ya…"

"And you didn't think to TELL ME!"

"Cana…Sweetie…"

"Don't you 'sweetie' me!"

Gildarts waved his hands in surrender. "Look…I-I said no, ok. He's not-"

"What!?" Cana spat, "He's not good enough for me! Dad?!"

"I was just trying to protect you. You know, he's not very reliable…"

Gildarts looked guiltily at Cana, she looked like she was going to cry.

"That's rich dad," she said thickly, "That's real rich coming from you!"

Gildarts pailed as she walked away from him. "Where were you dad when I was little…cos you're the most reliable person I know!..."

The door of the mess hall slammed behind her. Gildarts slumped, dejectedly on the counter, grabbing hold of a large tankard and filling it to the brim with rum. Crap!

Lucy noticed that Cana wasn't at the party the crew had started in celebration of Gildarts's return. Levy looked equally puzzled at the empty bar stool that was usually occupied by the brunette. Gildarts was more subdued; he looked so pathetic, Natsu didn't even feel like challenging him to a fight. The party finished early and Levy and Lucy went in search of Cana. They found her, leaning precariously against a palm tree on the beach, swigging from what looked like a bottle of Mira's homemade moonshine.

"Oh…Cana, don't drink that…" Levy said gently as she pried the bottle out of Cana's grip.

"N-n-nooo," Cana slurred. "G-give, thaaat baackk to meee…"

Lucy hoisted Cana up and led her back to the girls dormitory with Levy. They put Cana gently down on her bed and Levy ran to get some water.

"Here you go Cana. Drink up."

"Cheersh!" Cana sipped the cold water, hiccupping loudly while Lucy massaged her back in soothing circles and Levy re-filled the glass.

"Th-thanks…you, you guys…" Cana mumbled after about ten minutes of sipping water.

Her amethyst eyes welled with tears and she buried her head in her knees. Levy's brow furrowed and Lucy gasped, patting Cana's arm gently.

"Cana…what's wrong?"

Cana whimpered and wiped her eyes, "my dad did something…"

"What! What did he do?"

Cana sighed and rubbed her nose. "Ya know Bacchus told Macao he was gonna marry me…well he was actually serious."

"WHAT!?" Levy and Lucy yelled simultaneously.

Cana chuckled, "Yeah my dad told me earlier that Bacchus had the balls to ask him for my hand properly…"

"Wait a second!" Levy raised her palm, "I know this is kinda rude, but why was Bacchus serious?"

Cana groaned, "Erm…well. Wekindahadaonenightstandandnthemorninghesaidhedidn'tregretitandthatheactuallylikedmeandthenIthoughtIwaspregnant…"

"Say it slower," Lucy smiled.

"We got too drunk one night and we slept together," Cana panicked at the look on Levy and Lucy's faces. "Don't worry though we sorted it all out, but then...then on that night before we left Edolas…he said…he said he liked me and he didn't regret what we did,"

Cana chuckled, "then we did it again," Levy and Lucy giggled.

"A week later I thought I was pregnant."

"Hold up!" Levy yelled, "Why didn't you tell anyone?"

Cana shrugged, "Unless you guys haven't noticed certain people in the crew aren't the best at keeping secrets…"

Lucy nodded fervently.

"Anyway, we got back to Edolas after about six weeks and I went to see him and I told him what I thought."

Cana grit her teeth, "Then that idiot goes and asks my dad if he can marry me!" She sighed and massaged her forehead, "My dad told him flat out no and then they beat the crap out each other in the street outside the Hibiscus Inn."

Lucy nodded, "Wow."

"Yup, turns out I wasn't pregnant, but I didn't know that Bacchus actually wanted to marry me."

Lucy gave her a small smile, "I'm sure your dad had his reasons."

"Yeah Cana," Levy agreed. "He's probably trying to make up for all those years that he wasn't there to look after you."

Cana huffed, "I know that, but I hate that he just didn't tell me!"

"I think you should talk to him Cana. He looked really sad tonight." Levy rubbed Cana's shoulder soothingly.

Lucy grinned, "We're all on this tiny island, it's not like you can avoid him…and he is your dad after all," she sighed and hugged her sides. "You're lucky he loves you and genuinely cares for you…"

Cana read the sadness on Lucy's face. "You're right…I-I'll go right now…"

Cana raced down the ladder and Levy watched her run across the beach, through the small window.

Levy smiled at Lucy and muttered something about seeing Mira. Lucy smirked; she's totally sneaking out to see Gajeel. Yawning Lucy flopped on her bed and kicked off her sandals. She drifted off for a few minutes until she felt something brush against her cheek, she batted it away and rolled over opening her eyes. Brown stared into black. Lucy smouldered at the smug grin on Natsu's face.

"You'd better be out of here, by the time Erza gets back!"

He pouted, "Aww, Luce…you want me gone already? That's mean…"

"No Natsu, mean; is Erza splitting your head open for not respecting a girls privacy"

"But no one's around and I wanted to talk to you..."

Lucy sighed and sat up meeting the sincere onyx gaze. "Can't we talk in the morning Natsu...I wanna be alone right now..."

Lucy lay back down on the bed and rolled over. She thought for once he had listened to her, but no; a strong snaked round her waist and pulled onto his chest. She felt a warm hand entangle itself in her hair as he hummed contentedly before he began to speak.

"I'm not going anywhere Luce."

Her moan of frustration was muffled against his cotton clad chest. Natsu looked at her golden head, realisation dawning on his face.

"I know you're worried Luce so talk...that's what friends do..."

She groaned and pushed herself up off his chest. "It's nothing, just me being stressed over something I can't control..."

Natsu chuckled and sat up next to her, ruffling his hair. "We all stress about stuff like that Lucy," he held her chin gently. "Ya can't control what's gonna happen with your dad..."

"I know, I just wish he'd go away!" Lucy huffed and pulled her knees under her chin

"I wish he would too, then you'd be happy and that makes me happy..."

"That's really sweet Natsu." He blushed and ducked his head.

It's now or never...

"Lucy!" Did you and Levy find Cana!?" Erza's voice boomed up to them from the small kitchen.

Natsu seethed, subtly; wishing that Erza would just evaporate. Fuck! For the love of God!

Lucy stared puzzled at his tense jaw and push his shoulder gently. "Natsu, you need to go now."

"Ok, but we'll talk later." He saluted her before hopping out of the window and onto the beach.

Lucy sighed and flopped back down on the soft linen. Why does he have to say stuff like that? She fiddled with a piece of hair. It just makes me confused...