Hey, guys! Sorry I haven't updated recently... You could say that I've had writer's block and I still kinda do. So, any suggestions for future chapters? I have a very loose idea of what I want to happen, so... Anyway, here is the long-awaited chapter eight! Enjoy! R&R

Chapter Eight

Normal P.O.V.

Flashback

"Lucy, honey, be careful! You don't want to ruin your pretty pink dress, do you?" Layla Heartfilia smiled down at her daughter as they baked sugar cookies.

It was a beautiful summer day. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Everything was peaceful, and happy.

"Okay, mommy." Little Lucy jumped down from her stool near the counter and stood on her tip-toes near the sink to wash her hands. She reached for the faucet, but her little hands didn't quite touch the faucet.

Layla smiled at her daughter, trying so hard to grow up. "Lucy, I don't think you're tall enough to reach on your own yet." Layla picked up the discarded stool and set it down in front of the sink. "There. Now, wash your hands while I put these in the oven. Then we'll get everything ready for the picnic."

"Yes, mommy!"

The second they reached the park not far from their house, Lucy broke out in a run.

"Slow down, sweetie! You don't want to trip and fall!" Layla called after her far too brave little girl.

A man let out a chuckle next to Layla. "You're never going to tame her wild spirit. She's too much like you."

Layla jumped. "Oh! I didn't know you were here already, Jude. Let's lay down the blanket near the other families. I'm sure the activities will begin shortly.

And, soon enough, the whole Heartfilia family was running around the park, participating in relay races where you can't drop the egg balanced on the end of a spoon held by your mouth, beanbag races, and even frisbee. They all had a blast. Lucy couldn't stop smiling, and her loving parents were happy to see her that way.

The sky was getting dark, and many of the families were packing up to go home.

Jude put a hand on his daughter's small back. "Luce, we should get going. We want to be home in time to eat ice cream before bed, right?"

Lucy nodded her head fervently. With that, her parents couldn't believe her will to get home. She pulled her father all the way back to their big yellow house. Jude claimed that he bought it because it was the same color as the hair of his two favorite people.

Layla unlocked the door, and Lucy pushed past to run to the kitchen. That girl had way too much energy. Jude kissed his wife as he walked inside, after his daughter who was currently trying her best to pull the fridge door open.

Just an hour later, Jude and Layla were tucking Lucy into bed. They had finished their ice cream, read at least five picture books, and Layla had sung a few lullabies.

Jude flicked off the light just before closing the door, and turning to his wife. He kissed her, and they walked downstairs to watch TV.

When they walked by the kitchen counter, where the mail lay, Layla gave Jude a stern look.

"Honey, we have to pay the electric bill before they shut off the power again. Your grocery store," Jude gave her a look, he hated that term, preferring "market","isn't paying the bills. You need to find a way to make it work, or I'll have to get a job."

"But, what would we do with Lucy during the day? She's not old enough for a full day of school yet." Jude wrinkled his brow, trying to find a way out of the hole he'd dug himself in.

"I-I don't know. I don't know. We're going to have to make this work."

Jude reached for Layla, to pull her into a kiss and calm her down, but she shrugged him off.

Sighing, Jude said,"Maybe I can close up the market." Layla glared at him. "Get a more practical job, you know? That way I can pay the bills, and you can stay home during the day with Lucy."

"No, you will not close down the market. It's your dream! I won't let you give that up."

"A man has to make sacrifices for his family. It's fine, I want you to be able to stay home with Lucy. She needs her mother here for her."

"No! That's not an option! We're not at the point where you have to make any sacrifices like that. I won't let you close the market."

"But, Layla, it would solve all of our problems."

"So, what? You want to close the market? To give up your dream?"

"No, of course not-"

"Good. Then we're not closing the market."

"But-"

"But what?! What can you possibly say to argue with me right now?! I'm not letting you give up your dream! Not for me, not for anyone! Not when it's not needed!"

"Layla, calm down. Please, just think about this. My dream isn't important." Jude reached to rub her arm, but Layla pulled away.

"Yes it is! I wish you would just realize that already!"

There was a long silence. It was only broken when Layla grabbed her coat and opened the door to walk outside.

"Where are you going, honey?" Jude asked, trying not to skate on thin ice.

"To think. You know, like you wanted." She left without another word. Jude just didn't understand-why did she have to get so heated up about such little things. He figured it was just her nature, her need to help everyone with everything, and never give up.

As Layla walked, she noticed a van going pretty slowly just behind her. She glanced back every few seconds. When the van was still tailing her, she broke out in a run. Running, she looked back again to see if she had lost it, and sighed, realizing that the van was gone. She turned around again, only to find a man in front of her. She tried to scream, but she couldn't get it out of her throat before she was overwhelmed with a sickly sweet scent, and blacked out. Two more men jumped out of the van, now on the other side of where Layla stood in the first man's arms. The three men picked Layla up together, and carried her into the van.

She was never seen again. The police investigated for six months, gave up, and announced her dead, even though they had no real idea what happened to her. Jude couldn't bear to live in the big yellow house anymore, so he and Lucy moved into a small brown one. He took up drinking, and barely spoke a word to his daughter. That is, when he bothered to be around her. He got better after a couple of years, but he and Lucy still didn't have the relationship that they did before.

How was it? Sorry for the no-NaLu flashback chapter. I just wanted to go more into detail about what happened to Layla, and Lucy's current situation with her father. So, sorry again for the no-NaLu chapter. Again, if you have any ideas for a future chapter, please let me know! I'm totally open to suggestion. Please review, and I'll post chapter nine as soon as I can!