Nalu4Ever: thank you for the feedback and advice! I know that last chapter was disappointing on the romance front, I'm really disappointed and sorry for that chapter haha but I'll definitely keep that in mind for the following chapters! :D
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail!
Enjoy!
Chapter 25
After that, Lucy and all her friends were able to relax and focus on things other than jerks like Sting and Laxus. Lucy secretly hoped that the combination of Yukino and Laxus no longer being around would help to influence the other guys and make them kinder.
Although she managed to get a lot of studying done that first week with Natsu in detention, it felt lonely and boring without him there.
Lucy sighed. "Levy-chan?"
"Yeah?" the blue haired girl replied, not looking up from her book.
"Do you ever go home during the term?" she asked.
"I have," Levy replied, looking at the blonde. "But only once – I live too far away. Do you want to go home, Lu-chan?"
"I don't know," Lucy replied. "I would love to see Mama and everyone. I just don't want to fight with Papa again,"
"Maybe you won't fight,"
Lucy just looked at her. "I wish it was that easy," she sighed. "Anyway, I was thinking of going this weekend, since we don't have a game. I don't know what it is, but I've been thinking about home a lot lately,"
"It's okay to want to go back, Lu-chan," Levy smiled. "And it's okay to want to see your Dad – even if he is terrible,"
Lucy just sighed and looked out the window.
"Lucy! I haven't seen you in so long! I miss you!" Natsu cried, running into the common room, heading straight for Lucy, who was studying with the girls.
"It's only been an hour," she laughed.
"Longest hour of my life!" he complained, sitting next to her and leaning his arm on the back of her chair.
"Well you're done with detention now," she smiled. "Just don't get into any more trouble,"
"I won't," he told her. "Unless you're getting in trouble with me," he added.
Lucy glared at him and he gave her a quick kiss.
"Kidding, Luce!" he grinned.
That's when Lucy noticed that Gajeel had come in with Natsu.
"Hey, Gajeel," she called. "Are you going to study with us? There's a spare seat next to Levy-chan – and she's an excellent tutor if you need any help," she smiled.
He just grunted and walked over to sit next to the blushing girl.
"So, Luce," Natsu said, getting her attention back. "What to do want to do Sunday? Wendy's desperate to go ice skating,"
"Oh, um, about that," Lucy mumbled. "I won't be able to make it this Sunday," she told him quietly.
"Why not?" he asked, frowning.
"I'm going home for the weekend,"
"Why didn't you tell me?" he asked.
"I've only just decided," she admitted. "I was…conflicted,"
"I'll go with you, then," he smiled.
"No, you have to stay and take Wendy ice skating," Lucy told him.
"Wendy will understand," Natsu told her. "We can go ice skating next weekend,"
"But Natsu,"
"No buts," he said. "I can see that you don't want to be alone for this, so I'll come with you," he told her firmly.
She eventually nodded. "Okay. Thank you,"
He grinned and then kissed her.
"Don't do that here!" Gray called, walking past.
"Why not? You do it with Juvia all the time!" Natsu yelled back.
"Not in front of everyone!"
"If you don't like it, don't watch you creepy ice freak!"
"What did you call me flame head?"
Lucy and Juvia sighed.
"They never stop, do they?" Lucy asked, and Juvia shook her head.
The next morning, Natsu and Lucy caught the train back to Lucy's hometown. Natsu slept with his head on Lucy's lap while she stroked his hair. She was too nervous for sleep, so she spent the time looking out the window worriedly, thinking about what she would say when she saw her father.
When they got there, Lucy silently woke her boyfriend and they headed out. Lucy didn't speak at all while they were walking; she was lost in her thoughts. Natsu took her hand and squeezed it. She smiled and squeezed back.
They walked all the way to her house – Lucy was in no rush to get there. She still wasn't talking much, and Natsu respected her space. He didn't try to make her talk; he knew she had some things to sort through before they got there. He just held onto her hand, letting her know that he was there with her, no matter what.
When they reached the house, Lucy took a deep breath before walking inside, tightening her grip on Natsu.
"Lucy-sama!"
She turned to see the familiar faces of the staff that she had grown up with.
"Spetto-san!" she cried, hugging her.
"Are you staying? I didn't know you were coming back," she asked. "And who is this?"
"Spetto-san, this is my boyfriend, Natsu," Lucy introduced. "We'll be staying here for the weekend,"
"Marvellous!" she cried, and then hurried down the hallway while Lucy said hello to everyone else.
Lucy and Natsu were soon ushered into Lucy's bedroom, where they would both sleep.
"But if Jude-sama asks, he's staying in the guest room down the hall," Spetto winked.
"Thank you," Lucy smiled. She hesitated. "W-where is Papa?"
"I would guess he's seeing Layla-sama,"
"What?" Lucy gasped. He'd never gone to see her before.
"Yes, since he got back from visiting you, he's been out there every day, for hours at a time,"
Lucy was shocked. She didn't know what to say. The maid turned and walked out of the room, giving the couple some privacy.
"I don't believe it," Lucy whispered, sinking down to the bed.
"Luce? Isn't this a good thing?" he asked, sitting next to her and rubbing circles on her back.
"Yeah," she breathed. "Too good,"
Since she wasn't ready to confront her father yet, and he was still with Layla, Lucy took Natsu on a tour of the house.
"And this is my secret writing room," Lucy whispered when they were in the library. "Shh," she put her finger to her lips and grinned as she led him through the bookshelves.
When they got to the back of the room, she moved a large painting, revealing a secret door. Natsu's eyes widened and she chuckled, pulling out a golden key and unlocking the door. She pushed it open to reveal a staircase leading down.
She reached down and grabbed the hidden torch, turning to giggle at Natsu's face before leading him down. When they got to the bottom there was another door which she unlocked, grinning. She paused for dramatic effect before pushing it open, watching Natsu's wide eyes turn impossibly wider.
"Wow," he breathed.
Inside was a large room with a couch, two desks – one with paper and one with a laptop – a small kitchenette, a TV and a large stereo.
"My parents married young, and this was originally my mother's room," Lucy told him, pulling him inside. "This was her little hideout when she wanted to be alone to feel like a teenager again – and when she wanted to feel like a spy," she added, chuckling.
She pulled Natsu to the couch so that he could sit down.
"She started bringing me down with her when I was ten," Lucy went on. "Then she helped me make it my own the year before she died. I've been coming down here since. This is where I can hide away from the world, and just write," she sighed. "I've missed this place,"
"Luce, this is incredible," Natsu eventually whispered, still shocked. "YOU HAVE A SECRET DOORWAY! THAT IS SO COOL!" he yelled, jumping up. Lucy sweat dropped. Typical.
"You're the first person I've brought down here," Lucy told him, and he turned to look at her. "Not even Michelle and Hibiki know. I think Spetto-san knows it's here, but I'm not sure if she knows that I use it now,"
"So, are you gonna read me something you wrote?" Natsu asked.
"No way!" Lucy cried.
"Why not?" the pink haired teen pouted.
"B-because!" Lucy cried. "I don't have anything good enough,"
"I'm sure you do, Luce,"
"I'm just not ready yet, okay?" Lucy told him. "And I kinda promised Levy-chan she'd be the first to read my stuff," she added sheepishly.
"Oh, I see how it is," Natsu said, pretending to be hurt.
"Don't be a baby," she sighed. "How about when I'm ready, I'll show you at the same time? I'll technically give it to her first, but I'll give you a copy straight after,"
"Okay!" he grinned.
"But that's not going to be for a while yet!"
"Damn,"
The couple stayed down there for a few hours; watching TV, listening to music, playing games on the computer and just mucking around in general.
"Dinner will be soon, we should probably head back up," Lucy said, standing up and stretching.
"Okay," Natsu said, following her lead.
They had just reached the games room when Spetto came in.
"Oh! There you are! I've been looking all over for you," she said. "Dinner is almost ready, do you want to eat with your father, or by yourselves? I can have it sent here if you want?"
Lucy and Natsu exchanged glances. Lucy sighed.
"We'll go to the dining room," she said. "Might as well get this over with,"
Spetto nodded and hurried out the door.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Natsu asked Lucy when they were alone.
She nodded. "Yeah. I can't avoid him forever," she shrugged. "Besides, if he's been seeing Mama every day, he must have changed – at least a little,"
"Okay then," he said. "I'll be right here," he said, wrapping his arms around her waist.
"Thank you," she smiled as he kissed her forehead. She leaned into his chest as his arms tightened.
They stood there for a moment as Lucy gathered her courage.
"We should probably go now," she said eventually. She stepped out of his arms and grabbed his hand, holding it tightly.
They walked out of the games room and down the hall, Lucy's heart beating fast. When they got closer to the door, she could hear her father's voice.
"Why are there three places set?" he asked.
"Well, because there are three people eating here tonight," Spetto replied.
"Who?"
Lucy took a deep breath before opening the door. She stood there with Natsu, eyes locked on her father. He looked the same, but different. His hair was a little longer, the bags under his eyes a little darker. He looked worn out.
"Hi Papa," she smiled slightly.
"Lucy?" he whispered. "What – what are you doing here?"
"We came to visit for the weekend," she replied.
That's when Jude noticed she wasn't alone.
"You're the Dragneel boy," he said simply, looking at Natsu.
"Yes," Natsu replied politely.
They all stood there in silence, father and daughter staring at each other, for a long time. Then the food was brought in and placed on the table.
"Well, we don't want it to get cold!" Spetto called, pushing the teens to their seats.
At her movement, everyone seemed to unfreeze and they sat down and started to eat in silence.
They didn't talk at all, and the silence was killing Lucy. She was clutching Natsu's hand under the table. It wasn't until dessert came out that she finally spoke.
"So, uh, I heard you were visiting Mama," Lucy said nervously.
Jude froze for a split second – so quick that Lucy wouldn't have noticed if she wasn't looking out for it – before nodding once.
"I'm glad," she smiled slightly.
"You didn't come home for the holidays," Jude said.
"Uh, no," Lucy replied. "Natsu's family invited me to their beach house,"
"I see," he replied. "You always loved the beach," he added so softly that she almost missed it. Something warmed a little in her heart when he said that.
"Yeah," she replied.
"So, Natsu," Jude suddenly said, clearing his throat. "Are you going to take over your father's business?"
"Uh, no," Natsu replied. "I'm not really a businessman myself. I was going to just work for him, but now I want to go to college," he said, turning to Lucy for the last bit.
"What made you change your mind?"
"Lucy," he shrugged. "She makes it sound really good, so I'm going to start looking through courses, see if there's anything I wanna do,"
"You never told me that," Lucy whispered.
"I was going to surprise you," he admitted sheepishly. She grinned at him.
"Well, Spetto-san, thank you for the meal," Jude said gruffly, standing up. "I have work to do, so I'll be leaving now," he paused awkwardly, looking at Lucy before shaking his head and walking swiftly out of the room.
A/N: What do you think? I'm not completely happy with this chapter either, but it's better than the last one. It's all so serious, I promise I'll liven it up a bit in the next chapter!
Much love! x