Makarov gave a defeated sigh. The sun had gone down making the search more difficult, Laxus wasn't answering his phone, and now with the new information Elfman had just given him Makarov was beginning to feel overwhelmed.

He rubbed his temples with both hands, "So you went to pass meds and all the boys from that cabin are gone?"

The nurse nodded his large head, "Yes sir. I guess they decided to search themselves. Kind of a manly move if you ask me."

Jellal straightened from the wall he was leaning on, "Sir I think we might need to head back out. I know the local law told us to come back to camp that they had it handled but it's dark and they don't know these woods like we do." Makarov nodded in agreement. "Beside Erza and Mira already headed back out half an hour ago."

"What?! Without my consent?" barked the short old man.

Elfman laughed, "I've never seen them wait for your consent before what would stop them now."

Makarov rolled his eyes at Elfman and then focused back at Jellal, "Why didn't you tell me?"

Jellal looked at the short man like he was insane, "You've met them right? I was sworn to secrecy and I didn't want to die today."

"Not manly," Elfman grinned.

Jellal shot Elfman and look of pure annoyance, "Fine i'll tell Mira you are the one who squealed and save myself." Elfman's face went as white as his hair. Jellal crossed his arms over his chest, "That's what I thought.

Makarov just shook his head. Each and every one of these children were brats but from that first moment they step foot in his camp he knew they were his brats and he'd live and if he had to die of them. That's just the way it was and he wouldn't have it any other way.

FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT FT

What a wonderful predicament you have yourself in now Freed.

Freed's cheeks puffed out tinted red from the barrage of intense emotions running through his head. The teen walked stiffly uncomfortable with the contact of Ivan's arm around his shoulder and neck. The man would sometimes toy with a stand of Freed's hair and laugh when the teen would tense up and flinch. By now freed knew the man was doing it in purpose after he saw Freed's reaction the first time.

I find myself so immensely amused but the stupidity of your whole situation. If you hadn't been slumming with the blond ape you would be safe and sound now.

He is not an ape. I don't have and time to care about anything you have to say right now. If you remember I'm done with you now.

Yes I remember your incredibly loud declaration. That doesn't mean I'm done with you though. You hear a dead man's voice in your head that kind of mental illness does not just dissipate at your will.

At least you can admit you are not real now.

Yet you still converse with me even when we both know I'm not real. You said you were going to ignore me, you have no follow through. Much like your mother when she went to rid her body of the parasite inside her, she had no follow through either.

The teen sighed, his moment of courage and strength earlier seeming like a far off memory. The voice seemingly stretching and wrapping Freed's entire brain with its toxic webs. The voice, the dead step father's voice drained the teen of any self confidence much like the real man had done when he was alive. It didn't help that Freed had no control over what was happening and it made him feel anxious and weak.

Well you can at least take peace in know you and the blonde ape will die together. Although it will be no romantic feat. Much less like a romantic novel and more like one of those trashy lifetime movies you see on cable.

The voice laughed and Freed swore it was the most obnoxious sound to ever reach his ears. The teen was all but ready to give in to his defeat when he felt the man holding him come to an abrupt stop.

"What the fuck was that?" Ivan looked around trying to see in the dark while rubbing his forehead. "I swear greenie you move you are dead." Ivan released Freed long enough to bend down and pick up a curious object. Lucy and Laxus had turned to the kidnapper intrigued as well. When Ivan rose he held a neon green colored rubber band in his hand. "It a fuck bracket thing. Says 21 pilots on it. Where the hell this come fall from?"

Ivan started to scan the dark foliage around. Laxus let his own eyes gaze around the area also. "I swear Laxus if you are trying to pull something slick it will not end well for you. You toss this at me?" Ivan waved the rubber bracelet for the blonde to see.

The blond's contempt for the man was apparent in his voice as he spoke. "I'm not really the bracelet type plus I've been walking in front of you and you could see me the entire time. I have no clue where it came from."

"Well it didn't just fall from the sky, it had to of came from somewhere…...from someone." Ivan's eyes narrowed to slits as he looked around again. When he spoke again his words came out slowly dripping with venom. "I want to make it very clear to ANY and ALL, I have killed before and I will not hesitate to do it again. I only need you alive long enough to demand the money. Do you understand my game, my rules."

"Strange," thought Freed out loud. He knew he had seen those before, the exuberant Natsu kid always had at least half a dozen on his wrist, but how would one have gotten all the way to where they were now.

Well I can not wait to see where this turn of events will take us. Although without a good timed distraction the mystery bracelet thrower will be of no use if that gun is still trained right on you. It's obvious from their choice of weapon they have no real defense against this mans gun. A well timed distraction.

Freed did not respond, but briefly made eye contact with Laxus. Laxus watched Freed for only a second before casting his eyes elsewhere, his feelings of guilt making it hard to look at the person whose life was now in danger because of him. Freed wanted to go to Laxus and tell him it was all ok but he knew he couldn't. The voice pulled him back from reality and back to the conversation inside his head.

Honestly I can not wait to see the idiot's face when he demands a ransom for you.

You know very well that my mother would not have the funds for that. You conveniently left us out of your will, he can demand all he wants but there is nothing to give. Who knows how he will react he seems to have a plan all set out but from what I've learned from Laxus he can go from calm and collected to a volcano in a moments notice.

Exactly.

Freed's eyebrows scrunched together in confusion at the one word answer. Exactly? Exactly what?

That would be utterly crushing news to learn. It would ruin his well thought out plan wouldn't it. It would certainly be a distracting bit of news to learn don't you think. Maybe unsettling enough to distract a person from their current task.

Yes let's set the unstable man with the gun off in a rage, what an amazing idea.

Exactly. My. Point.

Freed was more than frustrated with the conversation and was ready to make that point known until the the realization hit him.

There was someone out there. Ivan however was cautious and on edge it would be hard for an unarmed person to get the upper hand on a man ready with a gun. Whoever was out there would need for Ivan's attention to be else where for a moment if they wanted to be able to do anything.

They need him to be distracted. We need a distraction.

Well perhaps it does have a brain afterall.

Freed took a deep breath before he spoke, "Unfortunately your game might not be very well thought out. The target at the end seems to be substantial financial gain on your part but I happen to know that while the Justine name still hold great value the Justine bank account is not as fortunate."

Freed felt the man behind him stiffen for a moment before he used the arm around the teen shoulder to pull them face to face. In a low yet deadly voice Ivan asked, "What exactly are you telling me?"

You are all he is looking at, now you just have to keep his attention.

"You need to speak up NOW kid. For your own sake you better be very clear with what you are going to say." Freed swallowed thickly and nodded at the order.

"I'm sure you know that my stepfather was a self made man. His parents died when he was just a little older than myself. They were not very well off when they passed he was left with nothing but the clothes he had and an old buick." As uncomfortable as it was Freed made sure he kept eye contact as he spoke. Freed needed to keep Ivan concentrated on him and him alone. "My step father worked day and night and spent many years struggling before he worked his way up in life socially and monetarily. He took no hand outs and put in all the work. The man may have been a cold hearted bastard but he knew the value of a dollar and hard work. He ended up doing very well for himself. He took care of my mother well and I never needed anything, although anything I wanted I had to earn one way or another. He often would tell me how disappointing it was to know he had to work for all he had and I was born into comfort. Of course he hide his disdain around my mother and I was not going to trade off her happiness for mine. "

Ivan rolled his tongue over his teeth then leaned in so he and Freed were nose to nose,"If there is a point it had better be made soon."

Freed felt small but faked an air of disenchantment towards Ivan's threat, "The point being he was cold hearted, strategic, and felt as though any advantage in life was undeserved and would teach nothing. His intentions had been to send me out of the house the moment I turned 18 so I could learn the way he did. When he became terminally ill he strategized a new plan. He liquidated all stocks and bonds and emptied all the accounts before his death. He gave the money to museum's or it went to politics. The cars were gifted to golf buddies. He had quit paying taxes on the properties even the house we lived in, they had to be sold to pay off debt. He cancelled the life insurance. We could only take what we were wearing the day they finally seized our home. Luckily my mother still had her ring which she sold to set us up for a few months til we found our feet. He intended for me to learn the way he did. My mother and I live in a small 2 bedroom townhome. She is a receptionist at a local insurance company working to get her license. My point is she is a single mother who make 14 dollars an hour. I do not think she is capable of what you had hoped for."

Ivan was motionless at he stared at the green haired teen but there was a fury building behind his eyes and Freed was quite frankly terrified. Finally the man spoke, "You are lying."

Freeds voice was softer, "No, I wish I was. The guilt eats at me, my mom has to struggle because of me. I'm the complication, I have always been."

Freed let his eyes meet the ground for a brief moment before he felt something cold against his forehead. He didn't have to look back up to know what it was but he did anyway. The gun pressed into Freed's skin as Iran's cold face glared.

"Well I don't need any complications and I really have no point in keeping you around now."

Freed felt chills run down his spine as his mind reached a new conclusion.. He had not thought this through, he was useless to the man with money. Now he was going to die. His poor mother, he had promised her that when he came back they would both be better at managing his illness. He wanted to go out on a real date with Laxus. Laxus, if he lives through this is going to blame himself. Laxus won't forgive himself. It couldn't end this way.

"Please don't," Lucy whimpered.

Ivan smirked at the fear in her voice. His smirk however faded when he looked to his son. The large blond stood hands clenched at his sides. Ivan could see his son's muscles flex and spasm from anger and adrenaline. The look Laxus met Ivan with was almost as cold and hard as his father's. Ivan shook his head at his son, "Now, now, Laxus let's not do anything stupid. Know when to cut your loses kid. There's nothing you can do for him, no matter how fast you move he will be dead before his body hits the ground. This is the time to back down and worry about your own skin."

Laxus stared at his father then took one strong step toward the man as a sign of defiance. Ivan's mouth gaped open then quickly snapped shut. They both kept their eyes locked on each other in silence for what seemed like forever to Freed. When Laxus finally spoke his word came out sounding like a low predatory growl and for the first time in his life Ivan feared Laxus.

"You are right, if you decide to pull that trigger I won't be fast enough to save him, but I guarantee nothing will stop me from destroying you. There will be no going back, there will be nothing worth going back for so i'll have nothing to lose and I'm not scared of you anymore. If something happens to Freed then all the pain and torture you've dealt out in your life will pale in comparison to the hell i'm going to give you."

Laxus took another step toward the man with the gun and then another. Ivan realized that this time his son was not going to back down. In one swift motion Ivan pushed Freed to the ground and out of his way as he aim the gun at his advancing son. "It's was a good show Laxus but in the end I always come out on top. Say good bye son."

Laxus halted his advance and smiled a warm genuine smile at Ivan, "Goodbye dad." Ivan was confused by the sudden change in the blond's face.

"Yeah goodbye dude."

Ivan jumped and turned to the voice that had suddenly spoke from behind him.

FTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFTFT

Now was the time. Mavis had had to almost sit on Natus to keep him from acting to early and getting someone hurt. She couldn't blame him though it had been incredibly hard to watch it all happen and not jump in but they didn't have to wait any longer. They couldn't wait any longer.

Natsu held the rock that was almost as big as his head high with both hands. Zeref and Mavis right behind him. The pink haired boy grinned like an idiot as he finally reached his desired destination. His grin got even bigger as the blond jerk actually smiled at him.

Laxus spoke, "Goodbye dad."

Natsu couldn't help himself, "Yeah goodbye dude."

The man turned around in shock at the boy standing behind him. Natus didn't give him any time to grasp the situation before he brought the rock down right on Ivan's head. The man crumble to the dirt in a heap at Natsu's feet. Natsu left the rock right beside the man and ran to the sobbing blonde girl.

He stopped in front of her, "Hey Luc make sure you tell Gray about me being all badass ninja like ok? He thinks he can beat me in a fight but you just saw how sneaky and awesome I can be."

The blonde girl wrapped her arms around Natsu and buried her head in his chest but her sobs turned into honest laughter.