There is still one person that has yet to know the truth of what is going on, and that one person will soon be in for a real shock when she learns the truth. Lucy has no idea what she is walking into as her car pulled up to her home and was excited to see her mother again. Excited to see her mother again, she left her stuff in her car and went straight to the door.
"Mom!" Lucy called as she entered the house. "Mom! I'm home!"
"Lucy!" Layla called as she came running up to her daughter and hugged her. "Oh my gosh! I am so glad that you're back!"
"I'm glad to be home, Mom." Lucy said. "There's so much I want to tell you."
"Is any of it important?" Layla asked. "I'm only asking because I have some news I want to share with you."
"What is it?" Lucy asked.
"Well, I'm a little worried about how you're going to take this." Layla said. "There's something I've been wanting to tell you, but I'm not sure how to say it."
"Mom, is everything okay?" Lucy asked as she feared there was something wrong.
"Everything is fine. I'm just a little worried about how you're going to feel about what I have to tell you." Layla said with Lucy getting confused and concerned on what this might be about.
"Oh my gosh! Enough with the delays!" That was right when Natsu and his father came out of hiding and Natsu was clearly impatient with what needed to be said.
"Natsu, we said we let Layla handle this since it's her daughter." Igneel said.
"Sorry, but she's taking too long." Natsu said.
"Natsu?! Mr. Dragneel?!" Lucy said as she was shocked to see them.
"Yeah. Hi, Lucy." Natsu greeted, but Lucy wasn't happy to see him.
"Mom, what is he doing here?" Lucy asked and looked right at him when she said the next part. "You know I NEVER want to see him again."
"I know, and I'm sorry, but there's something you need to know." Layla said as she tried being delicate with the situation.
"Lucy, there's something you need to know." Igneel said as he followed her lead, but Natsu wasn't.
"Our parents are dating!" Natsu said as he just came out and said it with him being annoyed they weren't just saying it.
"Wow! Just rip the bandage off!" Igneel said as he didn't approve of his son being so blunt.
"What?" Lucy questioned as she heard what Natsu said and had trouble processing it.
"Your mom is dating my dad." Natsu said with him still having problems with that. "They've actually been dating in secret for four years." Lucy heard it, but she wasn't believing it. She didn't think there was anyway her mother would actually be dating the father of her ex-boyfriend, not to mention the last person she wants to see.
"Lucy, sit down. Let me explain." Layla said as she helped Lucy to the couch. The time for secrets to come out was now. Layla and Igneel took the time to explain to Lucy what has been happening for the past four years. She told them how they've been dating for so long and kept it secret from the two of them. Lucy couldn't believe it. She's been wanting her mother to date again, but she didn't think she would date her ex-boyfriend's father. "And that's the whole story, Lucy." She finished as Lucy had trouble processing all of this.
"So, you and Mr. Dragneel have been dating since Natsu and I left for college?" Lucy said. "You've also been keeping it a secret from us for that long."
"Yes, dear." Layla admitted.
"And we didn't tell you because we knew you two wouldn't like it given how things are between the two of you." Igneel claimed.
"You got that right! I saw the two of you in the tub together doing who-knows-what!" Natsu called. "Not how I wanted to find out about this!"
"Excuse me." Lucy said as she needed a moment as she got up and walked over to the kitchen. All of them were a little curious as to what she was doing...until they heard her puking in there.
"Not the reaction we were going for!" Igneel called.
"Let me handle her." Layla said as she walked in after her daughter. Once Lucy emptied out what was in her stomach, she just hovered over the sink and felt a little queasy. "Was it really that bad to hear?"
"Well, I certainly didn't need the image of you and Mr. Dragneel in a bathtub together." Lucy claimed. Layla helped her out as she grabbed her daughter a bottle of water for her. "Thanks." She said as she had some water. "It's not even noon, but I already want a drink."
"Stop being a drama queen." Layla said as she didn't approve of her daughter's behavior. "Wait. When did you start drinking?!"
"Mom! Seriously?! Out of all the men out there, you're going out with Natsu's father?!" Lucy said while keeping the volume under control so Igneel wouldn't hear her. She's upset, but doesn't want to hurt his feelings. "Mom, you know I can't stand Natsu, not after what he did to me."
"Lucy, it's ancient history. It happened years ago." Layla said.
"Is this why you were telling me to move on from that?" Lucy questioned. "I'm glad you're dating again, but did it have to be my ex-boyfriend's father?"
"You know his name." Layla claimed. Lucy wasn't feeling good about this at all. "I'm sorry, but it's not like Igneel and I planned this. This just kind of happened, and it's fun."
"Mom, I can't forgive Natsu for what he did to me." Lucy said. "I've tried letting it go, but I just can't seem to. How can you date his father knowing what happened?"
"Lucy, it was Natsu's dream to become a fireman. I've seen both sides of the story and understand them." Layla said. "Plus, what's happening between me and Igneel has nothing to do with that. We thought about making this a one-time thing, but it didn't work like that. It was like there's some force pushing us together. I haven't felt this drawn to a man since your father."
"What about, Dad? What would he think if he knew?" Lucy questioned.
"I'm sure he would have understood." Layla claimed. "Lucy, I loved your father, but it's been years since he passed away. I'm not trying to replace him, and I'm sure he would want us to be with great guys. Igneel feels the same about his late wife."
"I'm not asking you to replace, Dad. That's not what I'm saying." Lucy said. "I'm saying, what would he think knowing what happened between me and Natsu? You really think he be fine you're dating his father."
"I'm sure he would because your father would have been understanding." Layla said. "Lucy, I understand you're not happy because of Natsu. Natsu's the same way. That's why Igneel and I didn't say anything. It's just...he and I have a great time together." Lucy isn't happy about this, but she wants her mother to be happy. It certainly seems like she's like that with Igneel if this has been going on for all these years. Meanwhile, Natsu and Igneel were talking about this themselves.
"Dad, I'm glad you found someone, but I just can't wrap my head around the fact that it's with Mrs. Heartfilia." Natsu said. "You know things aren't great between me and Lucy."
"Well, you have to admit that it was a pretty lousy thing that you did. You broke it off with her at like the last minute before leaving for college." Igneel said. "Layla was surprise Lucy had the strength to go after that. She had her heart set on you two going to college together."
"I didn't want to, but I wasn't sure how to tell her." Natsu said. "She knew how important and how much becoming a fireman meant to me and she wasn't supportive. She didn't see it through my point of view."
"She probably would have, but it was upsetting news knowing this was happening. Your timing could have been better." Igneel claimed.
"Probably wouldn't have made much difference when I told her. It still would have ended up the same." Natsu said.
"Maybe, but at least you two wouldn't be holding on to this anger towards each other." Igneel said. "Don't you think it's time you two let it go and move on?"
"I've tried, Dad." Natsu claimed with annoyance. "I've tried dating a couple other girls, but they were all blonde and I kept thinking of Lucy. Does that sound like I moved on?" He questioned with Igneel seeing the problem.
"I get it, Natsu. Lucy was your first love and you don't forget your first." Igneel said, but he wants Natsu to understand his position. "Look, Layla and I understand how you two feel about this, but we also enjoy being with each other. These past four years have been great for both of us. We don't want you two to feel uncomfortable about this, but we also want you two to be a part of this now. She and I've been planning to tell you both, just not like this. Now that you do know, we're hoping you two can be a part of this, put things aside for this." This certainly isn't easy for Natsu or Lucy, but they do want their parents to be happy. Just then, Lucy and Layla came walking in with Lucy standing with Natsu and Layla standing with Igneel.
"I'll be honest." Lucy started. "I'm not sure how I feel about this. There's certainly some baggage here." She said as she looked at Natsu when she said that making it clear about the tension between them before taking a breath. "But...I'm going to be mature about this and try to put up with it." She didn't want act like a child for her mother's sake with Natsu silently agreeing on behalf of his father.
"Yeah... Plus, Lucy and I are grown-up. It's not like we have to really interact with each other just because you two are dating." Natsu said as he thought he found a silver lining in this.
"Well, there's actually one other thing we have to tell the both of you." Igneel said as he put his arm around Layla.
"We're engaged! We're getting married!" Layla cheered. The surprises just keep coming. This is a problem for Natsu and Lucy since their parents are marrying the parent of someone they can't stand at the moment. This could be bad for them.