****Disclaimer: I own nothing***
This morning started like most morning, a heart attack known as the alarm clock buzzing. Lucy groped around her pillows to find the offensive sound. When she found her phone, she shut off the alarm, only five more minutes until the next one would ring throughout the apartment. With a sigh Lucy rolled onto her back with her hand above her head. Even though she did go to bed earlier than normal she woke up tried. Lucy was starting to believe that this was now a part of her personality. The phone went off again informing her it was time to get her day started. Even though she wanted to stay in the warmth of her blankets, Lucy got up.
Getting dressed, or as dressed as 6am will allow which means yoga pants and a t-shirt, Lucy made her way into her kitchen to start on breakfast for Nashi. Looking at the time she had about 30 minutes until she had to get her up to get ready for school. As Lucy went about making the oatmeal she began to plan her day. Wondering if Nashi wanted to her to pack lunch or get it from the school. If she wanted to cook or get at the guild. When that thought crossed her mind Lucy looked at her cell and checked her bank account. They were not hurting for money, but near the end of the month Lucy knew she was going to have to take a mission. She put a quick note in her phone to ask Levy to watch Nashi overnight if she took a request. When the oatmeal was done, Lucy put a little bit of butter and frozen berries in to cool it down. Now it was time to start waking Nashi. This was her routine.
Nashi was an easy child to wake up. After, Lucy walked into Nashi's room and turned on the light Nashi was up and ready for the day. She bounced into the dining area and took her seat and started to eat.
"Nashi, do you want me to pack your lunch or you get it there?" The answer she got was a shoulder shrug.
"What are we having? If it's pizza, then I want pizza!" Lucy smiled as her daughter beamed at the idea of getting her favorite food.
"That's on Friday. Today is Monday." Lucy looked over to the fridge with the calendar of what they would be having for the month. "Hmm, looks like they'll be having lasagna, side salad, and fruit."
"Bring my lunch." With that her daughter returned to fishing out the berries in her oatmeal while Lucy packed Nashi's lunch.
"After you're done, go get dressed." Lucy said while she made her daughter's lunch. "Happy will be here soon to walk with us to school."
"I'm full!" Lucy barely got the sentence out of her mouth when Nashi ran off into her bed room. Lucy laughed. Happy now lived with Wendy, Carla, and their kittens. He had lived with Lucy until a few years ago when Carla finally broke down and gave the poor cat a chance. Even though he had his own children to watch after now he still made sure every morning he was there to walk with Nashi to school.
"Mama, can you help me pack kitty." Nashi had her book bag in one hand and the cat shaped pillow in the other. She had not even gotten dressed. Nashi must have seen the confused look on her mother's face because she continued, "Today is reading day we can bring a blanket and our favorite stuffed animal to school."
This was news to Lucy. She looked down as a crumpled piece of paper was placed in her hand. It did read that today was in fact reading day at her daughter's school and that she could bring one small stuffed toy and a blanket to place on the floor while they read and drank some hot cocoa. Small stuffed toy was not what kitty was. Kitty was a body pillow with limbs and a cat head that Levy had found for Nashi. No matter how hard the little girl or her for that matter tried kitty wasn't going.
"Pick a smaller one and go get dressed." Her voice slightly louder. "Don't forget to brush your teeth." Nashi ran back into her room and shut her door. A knock at the door informed her that Happy was there. Lucy opened the door to let the flying cat through.
"Are we ready?" Happy asked loud enough for Nashi to hear. Lucy shook her head when Nashi came once again bouncing through her bedroom door and greeted him with her squeal.
Every morning it was like this. Lucy loved it even though it was a routine she couldn't get enough. The walks to Nashi's school were filled with small talk. Mostly from Happy and Nashi. Nashi went on about her friends, what she was going to do, but mostly it was about reading day. She was excited to spend the whole day on the floor being read to. Nashi rambled on about other things. Asking questions as they came to her mind. As they reached Nashi's school she saw one of her friends and called out for her.
"Bye, mommy!" She hugged her mother and Happy and with that ran off.
"Remember, you're coming to the guild! Walk together with the others!" Lucy shouted as the child ran into the building.
The others were Gray and Juvia's twins also Levy and Gajeel's daughter. This was also a new thing that they were trying. Since the guild was only a few minutes' walk to the school Nashi wanted to walk with her friends to the guild hall. Lucy had agreed only because Happy said he would walk with them and Loke had said that if anything were to happen he would be there. Lucy watched a bit longer at the door before turning to Happy.
"you going to the guild or back home today?" Lucy asked. The flying cat thought about in for a bit.
"I am going home, but I'll be back to pick up Nashi!" Happy said in his always cheery voice. With that he flew off.
After Happy left, Lucy made her way through the streets to the guild hall. It stood where it had always stood, no matter how many times it was torn down. The city had finally settled in to a normalcy. It would always be home for Lucy. The heavy doors were propped open to let the fresh breeze through. The inside was awash of buzz, in two weeks would be the 8th year since the of the battle of Alvarez. Which was now a national holiday. Lucy was not looking forward to that day nor were the members of Fairy Tail that were there. It was all the newer members who didn't know how much the guild had lost. They didn't know Makarov or what he had done to save his children or Natsu, who stabbed himself to end the fighting and death. While they had heard stories of those who had died from those who had lived it. It didn't affect them the same way, nor should it, they weren't there. The older members who did live through it tried to ignore it completely. Fairy Tail wasn't the only guild either who felt this way. The other guild who fought in the war and lost their members. The guilds often made it a celebration of the lives that did not make through that battle. Which often meant, at least in Fairy Tail's case, drinking until you hold onto the ground so you don't fall off the planet.
Fairy Tail would still take part in all that the city was going to do. They weren't going to shut off from the city. They would have their float in the parade, but the thing that Fairy Tail did was have the names of those who lost their lives, whether they were members of their guild or one of the others. They would also list out the non-guild members who dies thanks to the war.
Lucy walked passed everyone and walked into Erza's office. Erza had taken over the guild after the master's death. It seemed to be a good fit for her as well. Everyone was too scared to make her too mad, so for the first time in forever only city blocks were destroyed instead of entire cities.
"Hey, Erza, I got your text last night. Sorry, I couldn't response to you right away I had somethings going on. You wanted to talk?" Lucy sat down in one of the chair opposite of Erza who sat behind a large oak desk stacked with papers. Her answer was a hum as Erza still flipped through the paper work in her hand.
Had remain the same throughout the last 8 years. Her long fiery red hair was drawn up in a ponytail. She still wore her armor. Although Lucy didn't know how she could flip through the papers like she did with the armor that covered her fingers. Erza was a great guild master, everyone loved her, some maybe out of fear. She was fair to everyone, and like Makarov treated everyone like family. She expected everyone to do the same. A lot of the same policies that Makarov had Erza kept.
"Yes, Lucy, about the book. I was thinking. Why not make you the guild historian? You would be paid a steady salary. That way if you want to take a request you could but you can be home more with Nashi. That and… I need help looking through all this." Lucy laughed and agreed.
After that the two talked about what the job entailed. Erza still wanted the book that she had requested Lucy to write. The day rolled along slowly until the chime of the school's bell informed the entire city that there was a wave of children being released. Lucy looked up at the sky. She had lost all track of time after being set free from Erza to let her look through the archives.
Happy would be there to pick Nashi and the rest and bring them to the guild. Like clockwork two girls crashed into the door fighting. Gray sighed as he went to claim his two and break up the fight. From what Lucy had gathered, one of the twins took the other's favorite pencil and threw it away. Rika, Levy and Gajeel's daughter, and Nashi walked in. Nashi's head was down as she walked into her mother.
"I don't feel good. Can we go home?" Lucy got down on her knees and brushed her daughter's bangs out of her face. She did feel warm to the touch and her cheek were red. Lucy nodded and wave her goodbyes to everyone.
Nashi was quite all the way back to their apartment. She kept her head down and sniffled. This wasn't her daughter; she must have caught whatever it was while she was at school. It broke Lucy's heart to see her normally bouncy happy daughter act this way.
When they got home, Nashi shrugged off her back pack to the floor and dropped her lunch box on her path to her room. Nashi closed her door. Lucy went to get an ice pack and some cold medication. She wished Wendy wasn't on a mission or she would have called her.
Levy's number flashed on Lucy's phone. Lucy picked up while she started some soup. "Hey, Lu, you got a moment?" Lucy said that she was, "I found out why Nashi might be upset. Is she around?"
Lucy turned off the stove and walked into her room. "What's wrong Levy?"
"Rika, told me that today at school they were all brought into the school's gym and they learned that every day to the anniversary of the start of the war they were going…." Levy's paused a moment, "They are going to learn a little about it each day. Today they learned 'the bad guys', that was how Rika said it. They learned about Zeref and about Natsu…" Levy's voice trembled. "They said that Natsu was one of Zeref's demons…" Lucy silently cried as levy spoke. She slid down her bedroom door as Levy explained to her what the children had learned. What her daughter had learned. The way it sounded was they were making Natsu out to be the bad guy. Nothing but a demon created by the dark wizard Zeref. When in all actuality, he had killed himself to save everyone. While yes, for a moment he had lost control and attacked a few people, Gray being one of them, he had gotten control over himself. Nashi heard all this. Nashi knew who her father was, she knew his name, what he looked like. She knew the man that her school was talking about was her father. "Rika told me that she saw some of the kids picking on Nashi because of this. Lucy, I am so very sorry. Do I need to come over to help you?"
Lucy at first shook her head since she did not trust her voice, "No, I will talk to her." She said after a long pause.
"Love ya girl. If you need, Gajeel is on a war path when he heard it. I am sure he would beat up a few kids as well." Levy gave a halfhearted laugh. She could imagine Gajeel threatening not only the school but some little kids as well. They said their goodbyes and Lucy stayed for a moment and wondered what she was going to say. Was this the reason Nashi has really never asked about her father. How many times had she heard that story? They had told stories about the battle and the war before. Little kids would circle around the adult talking about it. Nashi never did. She never seemed interested, even when it was Lucy's turn to tell the story. Nashi would be off in a corner playing with the younger children.
Lucy stood and wiped her face. This was not going to be easy but it was her duty as a parent to tell her daughter the truth. She looked over to the book and wished Natsu was here. If Natsu were there Nashi would not be hurting. Lucy walked over to the book and ran a finger down the cover. How was she going to handle this?
"Natsu, our daughter is hurting." Tears threatened the corners of her eyes. How would he handle this? The image of him going to the school yelling came to mind. The thought made Lucy smile for a bit. She had always wonder what kind of father he would be. It always came to him being over protective, but at the same time not. She could see him threatening people if they hurt or even looked at Nashi wrong. At the same time, she could imagine him taking her off into the woods and just letting her play free. Lucy shook it off and went into the bathroom to wash her face. Then she walked into Nashi's room.
Nashi had the lights off and was all under one of her blankets. Lucy could hear her daughter sobbing.
"Nashi? Do you want to talk about today?" Nashi shook her head. "I think we should."
Nashi shook her head again, and Lucy just sat there rubbing her daughter's back as she cried.
"Come on now, little one, I think we should talk. Can you sit up for me." Once again, Nashi shook her head. "Do you have any questions?"
Nashi removed the blanket from her face, "Mommy, am I a bad girl?"
"Baby girl why would you ask that?" The question hit Lucy hard. Where had she heard that? From the kids that Rika saw picking on her. Lucy removed the fluffy pink and purple blank from her daughter's head to stroke Nashi's hair. Nashi clutched onto kitty as if she was trying to become one with the stuffed toy. Nashi whimpered and placed her face into the fur of the toy.
"Because, Teacher said…" Nashi broke down unable to finish. Lucy grabbed her and pulled her into her arms. Lucy knew children could be mean, but she never thought it would be this bad. Nashi held onto Lucy and the stuffed toy. Lucy began to rock her daughter to comfort her. Lucy looked around Nashi's room, the walls were pink and the paint uneven in spots. When she asked Loke and Gray to help her paint they had gotten into a paint war over who could do it better. Lucy brought Nashi closer to her.
"You are not a bad girl!" Lucy whispered, "You are a smart, creative, and brave little girl!"
It was a long moment of Lucy holding her child until her tears became hiccups. As Nashi began to settle, Lucy formed a plan. She put Nashi back down on her bed and looked at her daughter.
"One moment, I have something to show you. Then, I will tell you the story of what really happened." Nashi rubbed her eyes and nodded.
Lucy went back into her room and reached under her pillow and pulled out Natsu's scarf. Then she took the book and wrapped it around it. It looked like the day Gray gave it to her. That was all that was left of him. His trademark scarf and the book with the gold letters E.N.D written across it. Lucy held it close to her feeling it's warmth spread in her chest. He wouldn't want his daughter to be sad, no matter what kind of parent he would have been. Lucy walked back into Nashi's room. Nashi had gone back to under her blanket sniffling. Kitty's half end hung out under the covers and over the side of the bed.
Lucy got on her knees beside her daughter's bed. "Nashi, your father was a demon created by Zeref. Your father was Zeref's little brother. I am not going to lie to you about that. You know what? He was a good man with a good heart. He cared deeply for his friends. He thought of everyone in the guild as his family. He was fiercely loyal. He did not die a monster or a demon, but a man protecting his family. A family that he loved." Nashi peeked out once more from under the covers, "He was a happy man. He loved to have fun." Nashi sat on the edge of her bed. Lucy took her daughter's hands into her own. "Nashi Dragneel you are the daughter of a dragon slayer. You are a granddaughter of the king of the fire dragons. You are not the daughter of some monster, but a proud and powerful wizard."
Lucy let go over her hands and uncovered the book to show Nashi. "Nashi, your father…" Lucy felt hot tears come from the corners of her eyes. She knew she had to be strong right now. "This is all that is left. This book and this scarf."
Nashi reached out her hands to the book. Taking it from her mother she pulled it in to her chest. Nashi felt the warmth that came from the book and started to cry again. This time with the words 'Daddy' mixed into her sobs. Lucy got behind Nashi on her bed and held her while she held the book. Nashi's tears stained the cover as she begged for the father she had never met; and a father that will never come and hold her.
When Nashi had calmed down again, Lucy pulled her into a big hug. "How about we put the book on the bookshelf looking out. So, that way, in a way, your father can watch over you?"
Nashi nodded holding the book out to look it over. Nashi noticed the puncture in the upper left corner of the book. Her tiny hands rubbed it very carefully. Nashi then pulled it back to her chest to hug it again.
Lucy stood up and with Nashi went into the living room. Lucy removed the books on the second to highest shelf, overlooking the entire apartment. Lucy then propped the book up so it could stand. Lucy looked back at Nashi who gave it a thumb up. Lucy then took Natsu's scarf and wrapped it around the book in the way he use to do. While up there Lucy surveyed the room. It was a good size apartment. The kitchen was only separated by a low bar where Lucy and Nashi ate. Lucy stepped down off the step stool and went over to Nashi; both of them took a step back and surveyed the work.
"What do you think, Baby girl?" Lucy placed her hands on her hips. Nashi did the same with a big smile. She did have Natsu's smile. "So what's for dinner?"
Nashi looked at the ground, "Can we go back to the guild to eat? I want to play with my friends too."
Lucy looked at the clock. It wasn't late, a little after 5. She needed to talk to Erza anyway. They walked back and Nashi seemed to be in better spirits. She was talking about everything that came to her mind.
The city was bustling with people now. Women buying things for their evening meals. Teens walking in groups with their friends talking about school. Children running along playing with one another. Cooking smells came from homes and restaurants wafted into the streets. Nashi dragged Lucy along in the ruby glow of the setting sun through the mass of people as they made way back to the guild. It was still warm with a light breeze that tousled Nashi's long pink hair.
Nashi ran straight to Levy when they entered the guild, Lucy mouthed a 'you got this' and pointed to Nashi. Levy nodded.
"Don't worry Bunny Girl, I got this." Gajeel's deep booming voice came from behind. He placed his hand on Lucy's shoulder as he passed. "Rika! Nashi! Outside!" Gajeel ordered and the girls obeyed. The two girls giggled as they ran out the door with the metal dragon slayer close on their heels. Levy laughed and stood to walk over to her friend. Levy wrapped her arms around Lucy and Lucy responded in the same way.
"Oh, Lucy, I have a question. Next week, and Gajeel are going to take a mission can you watch Rika? It'll only be a couple of nights." Levy took a step back.
"Of course, Levy! Rika will always be welcomed at our house!" Levy thanked her friend, "I have to talk to Erza about something." Levy nodded and walked back to her seat.
Erza was on the phone. Anger filled the tiny office space. Apparently, everyone took the news about their children learned today as well as Gajeel did. Erza had the phone in one hand and pinching the bridge of her nose with the other. The occasional 'hmm', 'yes', and 'no' were the only words that were coming out of her mouth. Erza looked like she was in pain. Either the person on the other line was causing it or it was that painful to hold back whatever she wanted to say. Lucy kind of figured on the latter as Erza gritted her teeth.
"No! That's not what happen… No…" Erza looked at the phone and to Lucy, "They hung up."
Lucy took a seat and placed her head in her hands. She didn't know how to start off this conversation. Lucy had tried to plan it out on the walk over here but she could not think of now.
"Lucy, I know you're upset. I just had to calm down Gajeel and Gray from wanting to go over there." Erza's voice was soft.
"No… Well I mean that too… It's just…" For a writer, she was very bad with words at the moment. "I think we need to tell our story. What really happened! What really…." There went her words again.
"So what you're saying is we need to teach these idiots a real lesson?" Gray's voice shocked her. He was already out of his shirt. Gray hadn't changed in 8 years, he looked as he did back then. Since the twins were born his stripping habit had lessened greatly. Now he was more likely to only lose a shirt, or two.
"Well I don't mean hurt them." Lucy's voice went soft. "Like, during the festival, we could give a lesson about what happened. The truth from the people that were there."
"No pain?" Gray seemed disappointed, "What did the school say?"
Erza sighed, "All they said was it was what was given to them. I do like Lucy's idea. I guess as the new guild historian it's your job to set this up, right?"
"Right, I was thinking that maybe we should get up some of the things from the ones that didn't make it. Show each item or items with their story about who they were. Maybe once or twice have like a lecture about what happen?" After she had said what she planned; it sounded like a weak plan. She did half plan it out while holding her daughter.
"Well we do have two weeks to plan this. It is a good start." Erza rubbed her chin.
"Well, whatever the plan is count me in." Gray smiled. Lucy smiled. "We could get other guilds to do it in their own cities as well." He finished.
"Let me make a few phone calls." With that Erza was back on the phone calling saber tooth.
Gray and Lucy walked back into the main hall. "Hey, Lucy, if Nashi needs to come over to hang out with the girls or you just need to talk; you know you both are more than welcomed to come over. The block head might be gone so it's up to me, Loke, and Gajeel to step up to show Nashi what it's like to have a dad around." Lucy teared up again.
What he was saying had been said before by both men. Gajeel and Gray both had stepped up in big ways. Loke as well, he told Nashi that she only had to say his name and he would be there. They treated Nashi as one of their own children. On Daddy's Day, last year at the school they both had fought to see who would be Nashi's "daddy". Loke had joined in, and won, and wore a big smirk on his face the entire day. That was one thing Nashi wasn't lacking. She had a strong male role models. She knew that she was loved very much.
"Thank you, Gray, I was thinking about keeping Nashi out of school tomorrow." Lucy looked over to Levy who was looking outside to her husband. Lucy just hoped her daughter would not pick up eating metal.
"I was going to talk to Juvia about the same thing. I'm sure Levy does too…" He let out a sigh. "The girls asked so many questions. I can't believe what they taught them. One would think that since Natsu was a member of Fairy Tail at least this city would try and treat him nicer."
Gray didn't know what all Levy had told her. He didn't want to hurt either of them anymore than they were hurting today. Lucy nodded.
"I showed Nashi the book today. I guess I could've done it sooner. I just thought I could put it off until she was old enough to understand. The fact she heard all this last year as well and didn't say thing… that hurts." Lucy took a deep breath. She was going to raise above this with her daughter. They would come out the other end stronger than before.
****AN Notes****
So, I did decide to continue it. I can't promise how often I can update. Between work, school, and my little one I have almost no free time myself. After I posted the first chapter, I was on facebook when a picture came up it said: You will always be my father but I hope you know that it is your fault I will never know what that means. That is kind of what made me want to continue. I do have an idea where I want this to go.