LAST CHAPTER!
Disclaimer: Don't own FT! Mashima-sama does!
"Dad! Let's go!" A blonde girl with part of her hair was in a side ponytail in a pink ribbon ran into the arms of another blonde man.
"Yeah, Pops. Mom wouldn't like us to be late." A blonde boy came after the girl while scratching his hair while yawning. "I didn't wake up early for nothing." Then a familiar smirk blemish his face.
The oldest man in the room sighed. "Hai hai. Everything set?" The man with his light blonde hair and warm blue eyes smiled at his kids.
"Lord Heartfilia, Lady Heartfilia and Young Master Heartfilia, the car is set. The bouquets are inside already." A seemingly striking figure of Loke bowed down. But instead of hazel eyes, this man has brown eyes.
"Ah. Leo, how about Father?" Lord Heartfilia, aka Sting Dragneeliffe-Heartfilia, pkiuts cown his daughter.
"Lord Jude is healthy enough to come. He is now waiting at the car." Lady Heartfilia, aka Stacey Heartfilia, bounced up and down. She was currently eight years old and she was carbon copy of Lucy except her eyes were blue; like her father.
"Yay! Grandfather will come along! Isn't it a good news, Onii-chan? Grandfather is getting better! Soon he will be completely healed!" Stacey jumps up and down.
The Young Master, aka Luke Heartfilia, chuckles, "Yes, now calm down." Luke was the heir of Heartfilia Railways now. He is currently fifteen years old. With his striking figure of Sting and brown eyes, he was always the center of attention.
"Come on now, kids. Mama doesn't like us to be late, ne?" Sting smiles at his kids.
They nodded at him.
Sting took Stacey's hand and held it firmly. Luke holds the other hand and they started swinging Stacey. Stacey laughs merrily and the two chuckles.
Leo followed at their backs and smiles sadly. "Lucy-nee, if you were only here." He watched at the happy family but of course, someone was missing. "If..." Leo sighed.
Sting pushes the wheelchair where Jude Heartfilia sits. He was thinner and his once golden hair was now gray. At their side was Luke holding Stacey's hand.
"Don't let go of my hand, Stacey." Luke reminded her.
Stacey puffed her cheeks. "I'm already familiar with the place, Onii-chan! I won't get lost!" She whined. Luke chuckles.
"Look at them, Pops. They sure grew up fast." Sting smiled and Jude nodded his head slowly.
"Yes. Time do fly fast." Jude says.
Wind hits them and Stacey has to hold her skirt down.
"Mou..." Stacey pouted. Luke sighed. "Next time, don't wear any skirts when we are out or even when I'm not there. I won't allow any boys or anybody to take a peek." Luke fixes some hair strands and chuckles in amusement.
"Onii-chan!"
"What?" He said as he push back her bangs behind her ear.
"I like wearing skirts! And don't laugh! It's the wind's fault!" Luke had an annoyed look.
"No wearing of skirts." He emphasize with more pressure.
"Then!" She glared at him. "I'll wear veerrrry short shorts!" Luke's eyes widen.
"Pops! Did you hear that?!" Stacey looked away, pouting.
"Hai hai. She won't do that." Sting chuckles. "Not when I could burn all of them." Sting then have fire dancing at his back and eyes. It was Stacey's turn to widen her eyes.
"No!"
"Yes!"
"Hai hai. Now calm down. We are here." Jude looked up. Beside Layla's tomb was another tomb. Layla's angel stood with all of its glory but this time, it was holding a hand. It was Lucy's angel and on her tomb said:
Lucy Dragneeliffe-Heartfilia
Here lies our sweet Lucy who is now in a deep slumber. May our moments with her remain in our hearts.
"Mama!" Stacey lets go of Luke's hands and grab one bouquet from Jude's lap. "May I have one bouquet?" Stacey asked. Jude and Sting chuckled.
"Yes. Luke, here." Sting gave Luke another bouquet and Luke nodded his head. He grabs it and smirks at Stacey.
"Let's put them together?" Stacey looks away. "No! Onii-chan is a meanie! Mama, Onii-chan is so mean!" Stacey runs at the tomb and puts down the bouquet.
"Hey!" Luke stomps and places down the bouquet too. "Mom! Don't believe her! I was just protecting her dignity! She was wearing skirts! And as time pass, they were becoming shorter! Virgo seems to give her short skirts!"
"That's because I ask Virgo-nee to buy me those! Mama likes to wear those, too! Right, Daddy?"
Sting smiled awkwardly. "Ah yeah..."
"See?" Stacey sticks out her tongue.
Luke crossed his arms. "Unlike Pops here, I would rather protect you."
"Hey!" Sting's jaw drops.
Stacey blushed and then puffed her cheeks. She then turns away with a huff.
"Hai hai. That's enough." Sting pats both of them with his hand while his other hand was holding another bouquet.
Sting place down the bouquet and smile. "Hi, Mom. Lu." Luke pushes the wheelchair closer to the tomb. Jude then hugs his bouquet and then give it to Luke. Luke place it down.
"Layla, Lucy. I miss you." Jude smiles. Wrinkles then blemishes his face.
"Ne, ne! Mama! Today is the day of my violin competition! Then after my violin competition, it's Onii-chan's dance competition! Then after that, it's Daddy's opening of his new restaurant! Onii-chan and I will go, ne? And I hope Grandpa will come too! Then also, Granpa is getting better! See? He's able to come! Though, Onii-chan was being a meanie..."
"Hey!"
"But I made him! I like to see his frustrated face!" Stacey smiled brightly.
"Oi!" Luke exclaimed.
'Stacey sure do have my genes.' Sting sweatdrops.
"So, so! Wish us luck, Mama!" Stacey smiles brightly and a moment of silence was then followed. They all claps their hands together and wind hits them again as they pray their prayers.
"Yo!" They all look up and saw Natsu. Lisanna then slaps his head. "Idiot! They were praying!"
"Oops. Sorry." Natsu chuckles.
"It's alright. I think everyone is done." Sting bumps his fist at Natsu.
"Stacey! Luke!" A silver-haired boy with onyx eyes grins. He was around Luke's height but in truth, the boy was a year younger.
"Ryou!" Stacey squealed.
"Yo! Ready for later?" Luke and Ryou fist bumps. Ryou nodded his head. "Ready than ever! Dude, we were practicing for months for this! We got this!"
Luke nodded his head. Ryou was the only son of Natsu and Lisanna Dragneeliffe. He was fourteen years old and he was one of the members of Luke's dance crew, Dragon Slayers.
"Ryou!" Stacey glomps at the boy and then Ryou swings her around. He then puts her down and patted her head. "Hey, Stacey. Your violin competition comes first, right? Well, I'm going to cheer on my cute cousin!"
Stacey nods her head and smile. "Thanks, Ryou! You're the best!"
"Hey! What about your brother?" Luke pointed at himself. Stacey sticks up her tongue again.
The adults laughs. Lisanna place down a bouquet and then rise back up. Natsu wrap his arm around her and smirk.
"Hey, Luce, Mommy L. Nice to see you guys again. Came to visit." Natsu and Lisanna then clap their hands together and started praying. Then kids quieted down and Ryou came then to his mother's side. He smiled at the tombs.
"Grandma Layla and Aunt Lucy." He whispered.
Lucy Dragneeliffe-Heartfilia died shortly after Stacey's 7th birthday...
Stacey gracefully moves her violin baton and her body graceful dances with it.
Everyone was sadden. Lucy just suddenly left.
Stacey was then playing furiously.
When Sting woke up, Lucy was cold in his arms. Not moving an inch. She stoped breathing.
Then Stacey slows down by playing one note.
It was a miracle that Lucy survive for years hence even giving birth of two. Stacey couldn't stop her tears and Luke was now openly crying. Despite his pride and ego, he openly shed tears for his mother. He knew this day would come and he was ready but...he didn't know it was this painful. He wrapped Stacey in his arms and they craved for comfort at each other's hugs.
Stacey was now playing a soft melody.
Natsu had gone wild and broke every thing he sees. Jude was pounding on the floors and Lucy's every friend, including servants, was bawling their eyes out.
Stacey continued her soft and heartwarming music.
Sting was worse. He cried, he didn't eat, he didn't sleep, he didn't do anything except hold Lucy's hands for days. The days preparing for Lucy's funeral, Sting spent them holding Lucy's hand, caressing it, kissing her, and more and not once did Sting leave her side.
Stacey's melody was becoming slower and slower, softer and softer.
It took a lot of men to hold Sting back when Lucy was getting buried inside her coffin full of beautiful things. Sting cried and cried out loud as other were crying and grieving. Even those who were holding Sting back were crying; Gray, Rogue, Natsu and Elfman.
But then Stacey's music became faster and aggressive. It was more aggressive than the first part.
It was their children that made Sting stand up again. He saw them crying in Stacey's room and saw Luke trying to be strong. But he was failing. Sting then realize that he must be strong. Strong for all of them. He embraced both of them and smiled. "Mama doesn't like crying, right? We should smile."
And Stacey's song ended with one last note. Everyone was standing and clapping. Stacey was panting as she feels a lump.
'Oh no. Not here!' Stacey quickly bows down and briskly walks out.
"Amazing, Stacey! You put up more emotions on tha...You alright?" Luke looks at his sister and frowns. Stacey nodded her head.
"While playing...I remembered our moments. From crying to standing up. My play just seems to fit all of them." Stacey laughs dryly. Luke frowns deeper.
At his back were Sting and Ryou. The two were frowning too. Luke then hugs her. "Let them out, Stace. Holding them back would only worsen you." Luke hugs her tighter and Stacey started crying
"Ma-Mama!"
"Come on." Luke then carried her bridal style and walks her to her dressing room. Sting and Ryou followed.
"Need some help, son?" Sting asked as Stacey snuggled up in Luke's crook.
Luke shook his head. "I got this."
Sting smirks. "You sure grow up fast." Sting murmured. Ryou open the dressing room's door and Luke went inside. Ryou followed.
Sting's smirk disappeared and changes into a frown. 'Let's just pray that Stacey didn't inherit the illness...' Sting went inside and close the door.
-The Day that Sting would confess-
"Uhm...Well, you see...Lu..."
"Lady Heartfilia! Trouble!" The chef of the mansion runs to them full of sweat.
Lucy and Sting averted their gaze at him.
"It's Lord Heartfilia!" Lucy's eyes widen.
"What happened?! What happened to Papa?!" Lucy frantically asked with her eyes full of fear.
"He...He collapsed! He's in his room!" Lucy didn't waste time and ran inside the mansion. Sting was hot in her heels and he too has a worried look.
'Confess later, Mr. Heartfilia's health comes first.'
They banged the door open and saw Dr. Alma talking to Jude. They averted to them.
"Lady Lucy." Dr. Alma bowed down at her seat. "Calm down, will you? Jude, here, just collapsed out of exhaustion. Just let him rest." Lucy calms down and sighed out of relief.
"And you! Young Lady, why aren't you resting? And were you running just now?! No physical activities!" Dr. Alma pointed at Lucy while yelling like a mad man.
"I'm sorry!" Lucy squeaked.
"Sheesh! You Heartfilias!" Dr. Alma gave Jude some medicines then bowed. "Rest." She said. Jude nodded his head.
Dr. Alma walks out then pats Lucy head. "Take care of yourself." Lucy nodded her head. "And you, young man. Take care of her." Dr. Alma gave Sting a very knowing smile and Sting blushed.
Dr. Alma giggles and waved before walking out. Jude smiled but he do look exhausted.
"Sting, could step out for a moment?" Lucy asked with a small smile. Sting nodded reluctantly and stepped out; closing the door at the same time.
"Where's Lucy, Mrs. Spetto?" Sting smiled brightly. He had a week full of works and it seems that the fire that Natsu had extinguish was a big one and had a deep mystery under it. Sting had to work, work and work for the whole week. Of course, with Lucy in his head. Now, he was given a break and he didn't waste time to visit his beloved.
Mrs. Spetto frowned. "Sting-kun..." Sting blinked and looked confused. "Sting-kun, a day after Lord Jude collapse, Lucy took all of her previous desk work. All the pressure came back to her and this time, it was doubled for more demands came. Lucy will not come out of room. Dr. Alma seems only the one could enter and Dr. Alma reported that Lucy is getting weaker and weaker but she refuses to drink up any medicines! Sting-kun! Help!"
Sting eyes widen. He then sprinted to Lucy's room. He was already familiar with the mansion and he run to the halls where it leads to Lucy like it was nothing.
He stop and face the golden double doors. He knocked but didn't receive anything. "Lu? It's me."
.
.
.
Nothing.
With Sting's growing fear, he kick down the doors.
"Eek!" Lucy squeaked. She was at her desk and her laptops were open. Papers were spread everywhere, the curtains were closed and only the electric lights were on. Lucy's hair was in a messy bun and she was wearing reading glasses. Baggy jacket and shorts but she was very thin. Deadly thin. Her colors were draining and her eye bags were huge. Her eyes lost their shine and were now dull.
"S-Sting?" Her voiced croaks.
Sting closes and locks the doors and then marches at Lucy. Lucy stood up and shakily backs up.
"S-Sting, what are you doing here? Don't you have a case to solve?" And Lucy's back meets up her wall. Lucy gasped as Sting caged her between his arms.
Now the only sound they could here was the clock ticking. Lucy look up at Sting and saw his face shadowed but she did saw a frown.
"S-Sting?"
Sting showed his face and Lucy saw pain, fear and worry.
"What were you doing, stupid?!" Sting yelled. Lucy widens her eyes. She opens her mouth to answer but Sting cuts her off.
"Were you trying to shorten your life even more?! Were you trying to kill yourself?! What were you thinking?! If you die, do you know how many people will cry and grieve?! All of us are making up the time we have left for you! We are not expecting for you to shorten it! It will give us more pain! Answer me! What were you thinking?!" A tear fell from his eye.
Lucy's body shakes as tears were falling from her eyes. "I don't want my last family member to die! Papa is already old and yet he is still doing this! At his age, he is supposed to rest! Not to worsen his health! He collapse because of me! He was taking more of my works! I was supposed to take care of him! It's okay if I die because-!"
"It's okay for you to die?! Are you nuts, Lucy?!" Sting hissed. Lucy looks at Sting with a pained expression. She must have forget that Sting loves her as she loves him, too.
"Think, Lucy! What would I feel if you die?!" Sting's hands drop to Lucy's shoulders.
"...You'll be sad." Lucy looks down as more tears fall from her eyes.
"More than sad!" Sting then hugs Lucy very tightly. "I would probably kill myself! What life do I have if the woman I love is not at my side?" Lucy hugs him back as she buries her face at Sting's crook.
"Is that even a life? What's my purpose in this world if you were gone?" Sting broke the hug then cups Lucy face. He brushed the tears using his thumbs.
"I love you, Lucy. Don't say that it's okay for you to die. Please...live. Survive. Fight. I will be there. I'll fight together with you." Sting bumps their heads lightly.
"I love you, Lucy. I love you..." Sting closes his eyes as his words became softer.
"I love you too, Sting." Sting eyes shut open and looked at Lucy's eyes. It has its shine and life again.
"I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking." Lucy smiled at Sting as she snake her arms around Sting's neck and pulled him closer.
"I'll live until death will really get me." Their noses touches.
"But I'll fight off death." Their lips collide. Lucy could feel Sting's smirk and Lucy giggled in return.
Lucy grab on Sting's hair as they deepen their kisses. Sting pulled Lucy closer to him. Lucy tip toed and angle her face; tasting more of Sting. Sting groan in response. They separated and panted.
"I love you till the sun dies." Sting gave a chaste kiss on Lucy's forehead.
"I will love you till the sun dies." Lucy smiles in content.
ENDING SPEECH/ AUTHOR NOTE TO THE NEXT CHAPTER! YOU WILL ALSO DISCOVER SOMETHING TRIVIAL IF YOU CONTINUE READING IT! A DARK SECRET OF MINE!
FUN FACT:
While I was writing the short kissing scene, I was eating ice cream! XD