"I don't understand…" I said while letting Gray out of the hug, he moved to stand in front of me. He stuck his arm out, he was in a stance that looked like he was really going to fight Natsu if Natsu came anywhere near me.

"I can explain everything, Luce, but you have to listen." He cautiously began to move towards me and Gray growled. "Come on, Gray. We're friends. You know I won't hurt Lucy. I care about her too."

Gray slowly moved back into a normal position as opposed to a cat-like stance. Natsu moved closer towards us. "I don't get it Natsu. How do you know about Lucy's family? What actually happened with Lisanna?"

Natsu stared at Gray. "I can explain… everything."

We moved inside and entered the large family room. I turned the heat down slightly. It was a little too stuffy in this room. They were already sitting down on the large black leather couch that wrapped around the large room. They were sitting on different sides, so I decided to sit in the middle, slightly closer to Gray. "Okay, Natsu. Talk."

He inhaled deeply and then exhaled. His warm breath touching the side of my face, even though he was about 2 feet away from where I was sitting. "I knew… I knew your mother. I knew Layla."

My eyes widened and I could feel Gray's body tense next to mine. "How did you know my mother?"

"Well I didn't really know her, but my father and stepmother did. Grandeeney, my stepmother, met Layla at some book club or whatever. They became fast friends and our families became close. Igneel even bonded with your father. Our families would have their traditional Sunday night dinners. 1st Sunday of each month. when I was about 4, they started bringing me along and I would spend time with their daughter as our mothers discussed literature and our fathers discussed sports over a cold glass of beer." He stopped and looked at us, his face asked if we wanted him to continue. I nodded my head.

"Wait. I've known Lucy my entire life and I don't remember you or your parents," Gray questioned.

"Gray, you wouldn't know me. You and I never met. It's not like we weren't supposed to meet. It just never happened. Maybe Layla didn't invite you over on the first Sundays because she knew we were comin' and 3 kids were too much.

"This doesn't make any sense, I have absolutely no memories of you," I said, still confused.

"I know. I don't know why you don't remember me. Our families didn't hang out anymore after your mother passed. Grandeeney would spend time with Layla while she was ill, but everything else kinda died with your mother… My parents also moved around the time she died so you didn't grow up with me. Luce, you and I were rather close as kids. Your mother always joked, after a glass of wine or two, that she wanted us to be married. Of course, me being a child, I was horrified by the idea, but Layla wanted us to at least be friends for life after she passed. She was a second mother to me. I wish you remembered, I am not good at explaining things."

I just stared at him for a long time until I smiled. "My mother loved you like her son, didn't she? I remember reading about a little boy she wanted me to marry with the unusual hair in one or two of her diary entries, but I never imagined it was… you."

Gray's body and face were still completely frozen in shock as he mentally took it all in.

"Why are you just now telling me this?" I said as my smiled dropped. "I want to know everything about my mother's life, why would you just now tell me this?"

"I don't know, honestly. I think I was scared to tell you for some weird reason. Maybe I didn't want you to remember. Talking about Layla is difficult. So I guessed listening to people talk about her is even worse."

"You're right."

As I said that he stood up "I'm sorry" and he started to head towards the door. As he opened the door he said, "I miss her too. Every day." With those words, he was gone.

I stared at Gray, but Gray was just as confused as I was.

Just as he opened his mouth to talk, his phone vibrated. He looked at me and I nodded. He answered with a fake yet joyful tone. "Hello?"

"Gray-sama? It's Juvia. Have you talked to Lucy-chan is she alright?"

"Hey. Yeah, I am with her right now. Natsu came… He had quite the interesting story… I will explain more tonight when I come over."

"Does Lucy-chan want me to come over? We can have a girls day. Levy-chan, Erza-chan, and Mira-chan. We can help take her mind off of it unlike you." You could hear her smile through the phone as she said the last part.

"Ha! I don't know. Lucy? You want to?"

I nodded and then a smile formed on my face. "Yeah. I haven't been able to hang with the girls for awhile even though I have plans with Mira this week."

"Did you get that, Juvia?"

"Yep. Tell Lucy-chan that Juvia and the others will be there soon."

"Got it. See you tonight."

"Can't wait, Gray-sama."

He turned to me, "Looks like you should go get ready."

I sighed and lifted myself off the couch. "Yep, but oh what to wear?"

He chuckled. "I am positive you'll find something."

"Well, you also have plans for tonight. So you should head home and start getting ready."

He nodded and walked over to kiss me on the forhead. He smiled as he looked at me. "Have fun."

"Promise."

As soon as Gray left the house I ran upstairs into my room. What to wear? What to wear? I thought as I began scrambling through my closet. I decided on a green t-shirt that fits nicely around my torso. Paired with khaki brown shorts and a black belt. I decided to just wear my everyday black boots.

I couldn't stop thinking about all the things Natsu said. Had he really known Layla? Was she really like a mother to him? Were we close friends as children? Why couldn't I remember him? I was so confused and it felt like everything I had ever known just didn't make much sense anymore. I decided after I spent the day out I would call him. Maybe he could make more sense of everything. Maybe we could become best friends. Maybe we could have the relationship my mother wanted us to have. I shook my head and rubbed my temples. Relax, Lucy. Think about how much fun today will be. Calm. I inhaled and exhaled and then put a big, goofy smile on my face.

How much time would we have today, I wondered. It's already 1:29. I looked at the clock and the second it turned 1:30 my bell rang. For the second time today, I raced down the stairs and opened the large door with a huge smile. In front of me stood Juvia, Mia, Levy, and Erza. I thought I saw one more figure behind Mia, but I wasn't sure until the petite figured moved from behind the platinum blonde. There in front of Mirajane stood her little sister. Lisanna.