Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail

Pure

Chapter 10 - A father's heart

"So... Sting, have you found out what college you're going to join at the end of the year?" – Hazumi said, smiling.

…

"Sting, answer your mother question." – Weisslogia said firmly. Sting glanced coldly at his father.

"She's not my mother." – He murmured, then got back to his steak. It was a usual (well not so usual) Saturday and Weisslogia family was having dinner with the new future woman of the house.

"Yes, she is, we're engaged and she'll soon take care of you so you'd better get used to it."

Sting didn't say anything, he snorted in disgust…

[20 hours ago]

"Thank you for taking me back to my dorm, I'm glad that you came. Tell Rogue that I said good night" – Lucy beamed.

She really did a pretty good job as enjoying both companies from Sabertooth and Fairy Tail. Nothing bad happened, although she didn't have the chance to talk much to Natsu because Sting just kept dragging her around the bar to avoid him. She couldn't do much about that but shaking her head at him, she wanted to ask Sting about him and Natsu but maybe not today, the time wasn't right. After that, he escorted her back to her room, it was already 10 PM.

"No problem." – He said then kissed her forehead – "Good night, Luce." - She waved at him then closed the door. He sighed in content, smiling, but the vibration from his phone interrupted the smile from stretching wider. It was a text from Rogue.

'Go home, now.'

Geeze, bossy.

Sting rolled his eyes and quickly left Fairy Tail building. Father must have been home a while ago, Sting kinda missed him although he didn't express much. Weisslogia was actually not his biological father, he was Sting's step father. He married Sting's mother when Sting was five. Wesslogia was an orphan, having lived in the orphanage his whole life. He became a man without love from parents, but from sisters at the local church in Bosco. He started his career as a business man in Fiore when he was 26 and met Sting's mother three years later. He loved Sting like his own son and Sting looked up to him so much.

Sting got home 15 minutes later, he was about to push the door, but it suddenly opened.

Rogue stood there, looking at him expressionless like usual, but Sting could detect a trail of worry in his eyes.

"Father's home, he's in the living room." – He said and stepped aside so Sting could walk in.

"Is something wrong, Rogue?" – Sting asked him in confusion.

"Yes, but… take it easy, okay?" - Rogue pushed Sting to the living room slightly. Sting frowned at him quizzically, but didn't say anything. He grinned at his father.

"Dad, you're… home." – He halted when he saw the woman sitting next to Weisslogia.

"Aaah, Sting... Come, come… It's good to see you again." – Weisslogia stood up and hugged his son, Sting's eyes still glued to the woman.

"Sting, I'd like to introduce you to your future mother, Hazumi Weisslogia. We're engaged a week ago."

Hazumi smiled at him, she then brought out her hand, waiting for him to shake it.

"Nice to meet you, son."

His eyes were wide opened, he suddenly felt hard to breath and everything around him darkened. She… mother? The woman looked ridiculously like his mother with golden hair, green eyes, high cheekbones, she wore a blue sundress – his mother favorite color. Weisslogia looked at him worriedly, this was the reaction that he had expected.

"I thought you said you loved mom?" - Sting asked coldly.

"I do... I mean I did, but I think it's time for me to move on." - He replied carefully.

"Move one? By choosing someone looks exactly like my mom? Engage without telling us first? That's how you move on?"

"Sting, I'm sorry. I know it's a bit rush but… I think it's time for you to have-"

"WHO THE HECK IS SHE?" – Sting screamed at his father and the woman flinched slightly. He glared fiercely at Hazumi and Weisslogia quickly pulled the woman behind him.

"Sting, calm down." – Rogue put a hand on his shoulder, but he shrugged it off.

"Sting, listen to me, we-"

"YOU'RE ENGAGED? WHAT KIND OF SICK JOKE IS THIS?" – He was angry, no… he was furious.

Weisslogia was silent, he waited for Sting to chill out patiently, he knew this announcement would shock his son to the core.

"Sting, low your voice, just listen to him." - Rogue said, trying to calm him down.

"Get-her-out, GET OUT OF MY HOUSE" – Sting shouted one last time then rushed at the woman, Weisslogia stepped back and Rogue moved to stand in front of him, pushing him back.

"STING, CALM THE FUCKING DOWN." – Rogue yelled at him.

Sting was stunned for a moment, he hadn't heard Rogue talked so loud like this for a long time. He glared at him, but stopped nonetheless. Weisslogia looked at his son and wondered was this too soon to do this? But there was no turning back now so he closed his eyes and said slowly.

"Sting, I know it's shock for you, but let me explain-"

"I don't want to hear any bullshit of your explanation."

"Watch your mouth, young man" – Weisslogia gritted his teeth.

"Father, I think it's the best to talk in the morning, it's late now." – Rogue said and Wesslogia sighed, then nodded.

Sting didn't wait for another word from them, he turned around and went to his room, slamming the door closed.

"Thank you, Rogue. Go back to bed, we'll talk tomorrow" – He patted Rogue's head slightly, Rogue glanced at the woman. He thought for a bit, then nodded at his father.

She didn't seem scared of Sting very much.

"Good night, dad."

"Good night, Rogue."

Tomorrow is gonna be a long day.

[The next morning, at Lucy's dorm]

Huhmm… so warm.

Lucy murmured in her sleep, her bed had never been so warm like this before. She snuggled closer to her bolster, hand roaming all over it.

Goshhh, why is this so warm? Huhmmm…so comfortable… wait, it's not very soft like usual, it's… kinda hard, bigger too… but it's so smooth… Feel so good... like… skin…. Skin?

Lucy's eyes snapped open and were greeted by a… torso.

"'Morning, beautiful"

"WHAT THE F-" – She was about to scream but the person covered her mouth in panic.

"Sssshhhh, it's still early, don't wake people up or we'll get into trouble, Luce"

"What are you doing here, Sting and how did you get into my room?" – Lucy frowned at him. Sting sat on her bed, grinning at her, shirtless.

"And put on a shirt, you pervert." – She grabbed her pillow and hit his face.

"Okay, okay. Just a minute, geeze." – He chuckled.

She waited for him to dress appropriately then asked again.

"How did you get into my room? You know that you're gonna be disciplinary if the supervisor knows you're here, right?"

"I got in by the windows, you should have made a better lock, you know. And don't worry, nobody knows I'm here, except Rogue." – He shrugged.

"What are you doing here?"

His eyes were low to the ground.

"I don't want to stay at home now." - Lucy furrowed her brows.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

After what happened last night, Sting couldn't sleep without having a nightmare again. He almost screamed in frustration for the whole town could hear. So he got up, sent Rogue a message, then broke in to Lucy's dorm. He took off his shirt, but kept his pants on. He didn't want Lucy to loose her head when she found him naked in her bed. Then sneaked into her blanket and hugged her tightly. He finally could get some sleep and push the woman out of his mind for a while, thanks to her warmth.

Sting rubbed his eyes tiredly, then told Lucy what happened. Lucy was kinda surprised, Weisslogia was engaged? That was unexpected. Lucy never heard Sting or Rogue said anything about his father's love life. Since Sting's mother's death, he just lived like that, brought them up with his own efforts and love. She thought that this was a good news. It'd been ten years already, Sting and Rogue maybe needed someone to take care of them as a mother like they deserved to be and Weisslogia needed someone to share difficulty in life. But Sting… seemed like he found it hard to accept that he was gonna have a new mother.

"Sting, why were you so mad about it? It's been 10 years already. Don't you think your father deserves another chance to be happy? It's good for him and it's good you two, too. " – She said carefully.

He sighed. "I... know, but Lucy, she looks exactly like my mom and I have a bad feeling about it, I don't trust her."

"You've just met her, of course you don't trust her." - Lucy said tenderly.

"Alright, I think it's normal for you to have these feeling when she just appeared out of nowhere. But maybe if you get to know her, she won't be that bad." – She cooed, but Sting still utter a word

"Sting, I know it's hard to accept, but…running away couldn't solve anything. At least, talk to them and we'll see what happen next. I know that Weisslogia just wants the best for you two, you know." – She said kindly, her fingers combed his hair, giving him some soothing feeling. Sting sighed again, then nodded.

"Fine, but… not now. I need to be somewhere else right now but home"

"Okay… how about you staying at my dorm, then we could go home by dinner. Perfect time for family reunite, I want to see your father anyway. It's been a long time, I'll cook something for you guys." – She grinned at him and he smiled back, rubbing her hair. His dad would love that. Weisslogia really liked Lucy, the girl was like a daughter to him.

"You know, my father once said that he wanted you to be his daughter-in-law, when you cooked us dinner before you came to America, remember?" – He said, then chuckled, enjoying her slightly red face.

"R…really? I mean l..liar… he didn't say that." – She stammered.

"Oh yes, he did." – He smirked and tugged a strain of hair that fell down her cheek. "Do you want to?"

"Want what?" – She asked in confusion.

"Do you want to be his daughter-in-law?" – He whispered between jest and earnest, smiling at her. Now Lucy looked like a riped cherry, her heart began to race again. It sounded like he was confessing to her.

YES.

She screamed in her head, then inwardly slapped her face.

He's just teasing you, stupid. Pull yourself together.

His smirk was annoying and she knew he was enjoying this. She took a deep breath, keeping her eyes-contact with Sting. Okay, two could play a game.

"What benefit that I'm gonna get if I am your father's daughter-in-law?" – She cocked her head innocently and Sting snickered. She's in.

"Huhm… my father will treat you like his daughter?"

"Oh please, he's already treated me like his own daughter." – She rolled her eyes playfully.

"Okay, then if you are my father's daughter-in-law, I… will cook… for you everyday" – He grinned and she made a face.

"God no, you'll set the whole kitchen on fire and I will have to eat instant noodles everyday for the rest of my life, if Rogue isn't there." - She deadpanned.

"Hey! Okay, it's true. But I'm willing to learn if you're be there to teach me."

"You can have Rogue teach you." - Lucy shook her head.

"Yeah, but it'll be more fun if it's you." – He said in his sing-song voice and she cackled to herself.

"That's all? too cheap, I thought I deserve better than that." – She sighed, pretending to be disappointed.

"Playing the spoiled princess role now, huh? Okay princess, how about you can have everything in my house?" – He smirked then pinched her cheek and she pouted at him.

"Really? Everything?"

"Yeah, everything."

"Like what?"

"Like my X-box, my Playstation 3, my laptop, Rogue's guitar – he won't mind if you have it believe me, the 50 inches TV plasma in the living room…" – he counted his fingers. Lucy giggled, she didn't need those things, she could get them if she wanted. Her family was the richest in Japan, remember?

He continued - "… and the most important thing: me."

"I've already had you." – The remark made a slip off of her tongue and an awkward silence filled the air.

"I MEAN….eh…uhm... you're my friend, I've already had you as my friend...,"

"Shut up!" – She almost shouted at him in embarrassing, that amused him even more.

"I didn't say anything." - He cackled.

"But you're thinking, stop your complicated thought, geeze."

"Okay, okay..." He laughed lightly and whispered again – "Well then, you can have me more than a friend." – She blushed hard at his implication.

"S… stop talking nonsense, you idiot" – She smacked the back of his head then stood up abruptly. Stop messing with my heart Sting, I don't want to have a heart attack when I'm 17. But before she could go anywhere, he grabbed her wrist.

"You haven't answered my question yet." – He grinned, somehow he now really wanted to know the answer when he saw her red face.

Gosh, could he just give me a break?

"Well, do you?" – She asked back and before he could open his mouth, she beat him to it. - "If you don't, then don't ask."

Sting watched her running away to her bathroom, then chuckled.

Yes, I do. I really do Lucy.

[Present]

Sting stayed at her dorm all day, but instead of enjoying a peaceful Saturday together, she made him study. He texted Rogue in the afternoon to see if father and that woman were home yet. Then he took Lucy to the grocery store to buy some food for dinner. She made Sukiyaki – a kind of pot-au-feu consisted of tofu, beef, scallion, mushrooms, and vegetables eat together with jelly-noodles, some rice, Kakuni – caramel pork and Miso soup, she also made some sushi for Rogue and jelly fruit Konnya for desert.

"It's not some kind of a party you know, you don't have to cook too many dishes." – Rogue said, then picked up a sushi roll. He was about to put it in his mouth but Lucy slapped his hand and it dropped on the dish again.

"We're going to welcome a new member to your family so I want to make it special." – Lucy mumbled quietly, only for Rogue to hear. But it was not like there was anybody around to eavesdrop on them, Sting was watching TV in the living room, Wesslogia and Hazumi weren't home yet.

"So, what do you know about her?" - She asked, hands still working on sushi.

"Not much thought. She's my father secretary, they've dated for 2 months and just got engaged 2 days ago." – Rogue shrugged.

"What? 2 months and he's already thought about marrying her? As much as I think moving on is a good thing for him, it's too rush, don't you think?"

"I know, I was surprised to know that too. But I think it's because she looks and acts just like our mother, hair, eyes, favorite color, even the way she touched her ear lobe when she's worried this morning."

"Huhm… that's strange, the similar between two looks I can understand, but even the habit and liking?" – Lucy said in confusion.

"Yeah, but maybe it's just a coincident. Maybe if we get to know her, we'll see her completely different from our mother."

"I hope so, if not, it'll be difficult for Sting to accept her." - She said.

"Are you two talking about me?" – A voice resounded and they turned to look at her. Lucy was startled, but still smiling at the woman.

"Hi, nice to meet you Hazumi-san. I'm Lucy, friend of Rogue and Sting." - She hoped Hazumi didn't hear much about her conversation with Rogue.

"Well, hello Lucy, nice to meet you too. Weisslogia's talked so much about you." – She gave Lucy a hug then turned to look at Rogue, he just nodded slightly.

"Lucy? Oh my god, it's good to see you again, how are you?" – Weisslogia followed closely behind Hazumi.

"I'm fine uncle, what about you?" – Lucy hugged him and he patted her head. Weisslogia was like another father to her, he was glad that Sting and Rogue could have a friend like her, her appearance in their life was like sunshine after rainy days.

"Never better, my dear. Oh you made dinner? They look delicious." – He praised her efforts, then they started to gather at the dinner table after 15 minutes later… Except Sting.

Lucy and Rogue almost had to yell at him to make him get out of the living room, the atmosphere turned somehow gloomy after that. Hazumi tried to start a conversation with Sting but the boy either didn't answer her or just answered tersely. Lucy had to step on his foot several times to warn, him but Hazumi looked like she didn't mind. She just smiled all the time. If she wasn't Weisslogia's fiancée, but was a completely stranger, Lucy would have mistaken her with a crazy woman.

The dinner didn't go very smoothly. Sting and his father had an argument again about Sting's disrespect towards Hazumi. Although Lucy had told to him take it easy, but easier said than done. Sting finally decided to shut his mouth and didn't even say a word till the end of the meal.

"I'm so sorry about Sting, aunt Hazumi." – Lucy said quietly while washing another dish handed to her by Hazumi under the cold water.

"Oh don't worry, he'll get over it."

"Aunt Hazumi, don't you wonder why Sting isn't … very friendly with you? I saw you smiling at him like you didn't take offense by his words." – Lucy was kinda surprised when she could keep her happy face with Sting all the time, she was either had a surprisingly high tolerance or just simply crazy.

"I know why Sting acts that way towards me. It's because his mother looked like me, right? – She paused. Actually, you looks like her. Lucy thought.

"But I'm sure he'll soon like me. I can arouse his beautiful memory about him and his mother, although the similar between us is just a coincidence. He'll forget his former mother and I can take care of him for her instead." – She smiled again and Lucy just nodded. Maybe she won't be so bad.

[A week later]

"Let (d) be a straight line with equation x = t, y = -1, z = - t and 2 plane (P): x + 2y + 2z + 3 = 0 and (Q): x + 2y + 2z + 7 = 0. Form the equation of straight line (d') which is the projection of (d) on (P)?" – Natsu read slowly so his friend could write down the topic.

"Sounds easy." – Gray murmured and quickly wrote something in his note

"Lucy what do you think? Lucy? Lucy? LUCY?" – Erza's voice almost turned Lucy to deaf but it finally woke her up from her daydream.

"What? Oh… Sorry." – Lucy murmured when Erza gave her a point look. Lucy, Erza, Natsu and Gray were studying together, because they were going to have their Autumn term exam in the next 3 week, but Lucy didn't focus, her mind was somewhere else.

"What's wrong, Lucy?" – Natsu inquired – "Are you sick?"

"No, it's nothing Natsu, I'm fine." – She let out a soft sigh.

"Oh c'mon, tell us, we're friends right? You could tell us anything" – Erza insisted and she sighed again. Perhaps hey could give me some advice.

"Right, it's something concerns my friends... Okay it's about Sting and Rogue, don't look at me like that, please." – She made a face and they lowered their brows.

"Tell us anyway, maybe we can help" – Natsu offered. Although they didn't get along but they were Lucy's friends and Lucy wouldn't be able to focus on anything else if there was something involved her friends that she couldn't help. So as soon as they found out the resolve, her mind would still be somewhere else.

"Alright, you see, Sting and Rogue's mother… passed away about 10 years ago. It's a painful memory to them, especially Sting… and a week ago, their father came back home from an assignment and he introduced them… his fiancée, their soon to be step mother." – Lucy was hesitated, she felt bad because that was her friends' family's issue, it was not something that she should tell the outsiders but… she didn't know what to do with the trouble thought that she was having in mind.

"So what's the problem?"

"The problem is… there's something odd about aunt Hazumi, uncle's fiancée. I called their father uncle so she insisted that I call her aunt." – Yeah, the problem concerned the new mother. Lucy couldn't tell Rogue and Sting because she was the one who told them to get to know her first. Besides, this is the chance for them to have a perfect family with father and mother, to have the happiness they always deserved to have. She didn't want her delusion ruining it but she couldn't push that thought outside of her mind either.

"Odd? How odd?" – Gray stopped what he was writing to lift his head and looked at her.

"Do you think that… there is some particular reason for a woman to lie about her marriage status?" - She asked.

[5 days ago]

"Uncle, can I ask you something?" – Lucy sat on the couch in front of Weisslogia, he was watching news in the living room, Hazumi was having a bath while Sting and Rogue were washing dishes.

"Of course, my dear." – Weisslogia smiled at her, but it didn't ease her nervousness much.

"Well…uhm… you see, I know this is your family business and I don't have the right to meddle in but… I heard that you had only dated aunt Hazumi for 2 months and you two have already engaged? Don't you think it's a little bit rush, uncle?" – Lucy chose her words carefully, she didn't want Weisslogia to think that she meant disrespect in any way.

He smile in fatherly fashion at her, clearly expecting the question from the little girl.

"First of all, don't talk like you're a stranger to this family Lucy. You belong to this house the moment you set you foot in here, so you have all the right to ask." – He said tenderly and her smile blossomed.

"Second, I know that, my dear. I was astonished back then, when she was hired to be my secretary. I felt like I just saw a ghost, Hazumi looks like Sting's mother so much and I wondered was this just a coincidence or fate's arrangement?" – He paused but Lucy was quiet, listening to him carefully, Weisslogia lowered his voice.

"We've seen each other at the company everyday, we talked, we laughed… She reminds me of Belle so much, Lucy. And I had thought that… 'Who care? It's maybe just a coincidence, but what if it's fate? Perhaps fate finally gave me a chance to bring the woman whom Sting loves so much back in his life, the one that I had failed to protect."

Belle? So that's Sting's mother's name. Her name's beautiful. Lucy thought.

Weisslogia rubbed his lids to clear his eyes.

"That's why I want her to join our family as soon as possible. Sting perhaps hasn't accepted her yet, but I think he will, eventually and the past will finally stop haunting him." – His hands clenched and unclenched, talking about their past was hard for him, Lucy could see it.

"I saw him screaming, crying, sobbing and pleading so the nightmares could show him some mercy after his mother's death. I'm his father and I couldn't help him with anything besides comforting him with trite and hollow words." – He tried to stay calm but his voice was broken. Lucy almost cried at his painful expression. What could be more painful to parents than just standing there, seeing their child agonizing in pain, but couldn't do anything about it. She hugged his torso, like a daughter did to her own father and he smiled through her hair, he patted her head slightly.

"It's not your fault, uncle. We couldn't change what happened. Don't blame yourself like that, you just want the best for him, for them right?" - She mumbled.

"Yeah."

"I promise that I will try my best to help Sting accept her, uncle." – She beamed and he let out a soft laugh.

"Thank you, Lucy."

Lucy gave him a last hug, then went back to the kitchen to find Rogue and Sting, but suddenly remembered something.

"Oh, one more thing uncle. Did… aunt Hazumi have…family before? Even if she did, I don't think that would be a problem for us."

Wesslogia was taken back by her question, he looked at her in surprise.

"No, no, no, Lucy. She hasn't married yet, why did you ask?"

Lucy raised her brows, her mouth made an 'O' shape and she laughed nervously.

"Heh…eh… nothing uncle, I just thought that she must have had a family before… because she… ehh… she's… ehhh…" – Wesslogia watched Lucy trying to formulate the right words in amusement.

" … as old as me?"

"Yes- NO, I… I didn't mean that uncle, I mean…" – Lucy stammered and he laughed out loud.

"Don't worry Lucy, I know what you mean, but really… she hasn't married yet. Maybe that's why I thought it was fate, you know." – He smiled at her and she smiled back in relief.

"Why do you think that she lied to Weisslogia about her marriage status?" – Erza shrugged.

"Well when we were having dinner, I saw the skin area around her ring-finger was whiter than the rest. It's bigger than the ring uncle gave her so I could see it. It's a sign that she had worn a wedding ring before, she went outside a lot so when she took it off, it traced on her finger." – Lucy said, putting her index finger on her chin - "And the fact that uncle didn't notice it means that he hasn't known her very well."

"Okay… but, maybe it's because her marriage wasn't a good memory and she didn't want to talk about it?" – Erza assumed.

"Or maybe her husband abused her and she felt ashamed about it?" – Gray stated wisely.

"Or maybe he's dead, robbed, murdered or something. Maybe he was kidnapped by aliens." – Natsu added and Lucy sweatdropped.

"I don't think there is any good reason for her to do that. Aunt Belle – Sting and Rogue's mother's name – passed away, too. It's a big loss for them and they will understand it if her husband is truly dead. Besides, wasn't telling us about her husband abused her would make us feel more compassion to her, and easier to accept her? I would do that if I were her." – Lucy shrugged.

"Right, but… not telling the truth about her marriage status is not something illegal."

"I know… it's also mean that she doesn't trust us to tell us about something personal of her life. By the way, another thing that make me feel strange about her is…" – She paused and all eyes focused on her like they were watching a climax of a drama - "Frosh doesn't like her." – She whispered and they gave her incomprehensible expressions.

"Who the hell is Frosh?"

"A neighbor kid?"

"A cat."

"Natsu's right, a cat, Frosh is Rogue's cat. It's really friendly, different from Lector – Sting's cat." - She answered.

[3 days ago]

Lucy knocked the door but nobody answered. It was a Tuesday's afternoon, Sting and Rogue stayed at the basketball court to practice and she decided to have dinner at their house.

Uncle and Hazumi must have gone home by now.

She turned the knock and walked in, Lucy heard the water running from the bathroom upstairs.

Maybe it's uncle, Hazumi probably is preparing the meal.

She went to the kitchen but couldn't see anyone.

"Aunt Hazumi? Aunt Hazumi?"

*Méow*

She jumped at the sound of the cat. Frosh scampered at her, hidding behind her back. She looked at the cat quizzically.

"Lucy, what are you doing here? Wesslogia didn't say that you would come." – Hazumi appeared at the door, smiling at her. Cat food can was in her left hand and a kitchen knife was in her right hand, she quickly put the knife away and approached Lucy.

"Hi aunt Hazumi, uhm… I usually don't have to tell them… I just… ehh… show up?" – Lucy scratched her head, it was normal for their family if she decided to join their dinner without telling them first. But to someone else, it sounded kinda impolite.

"Oh right, it was before. But now I'm here, please call first next time, sweetie." – Lucy gulped and nodded dumbly.

"Ooooohhhh!"

"What?" – She halted and looked at them quizzically.

"Now I know why you think that there's something fishy about her, she's marking her territory in her new house, and you can't do whatever you like like before." – Erza smirked and the boys nodded in approval.

"Wha…what the hell? It's not like that and I'm serious about this so shut up." – Lucy frowned at them and continued her story.

"By the way, what are you doing Hazumi?" – She said, looking at the can in her hand.

"Oh I'm feeding Rogue's cat, Fros or Froge something, it's being unpleasant today. Hey kitty, kitty, c'mon… mama has your food." – She said in her sing-song voice and Lucy sweatdropped, but Frosh just kept hiding itself behind Lucy's legs. That's strange, he usually likes everyone.

"It's okay, Hazumi, let me handle it." – She offered, then scooped the small cat in her arms.

"Oh thank you, my dear, I'll leave it to you." – She gave Lucy the can, then got back to the incompleted meal.

"Hey Frosh, what's wrong with you today?" – She said to it then caressed it's hair, making it purr in delight…

"Maybe it didn't like the food" – Gray remarked.

"Excuse you, but it ate happily when I fed it." – Lucy retorted back.

"Anything else, Lucy?" – Erza asked.

"Yes, I found a golden rinse in the waste basket when I helped them take out the garbage. It means her hair isn't the color that we saw." – Lucy said quietly, Hazumi was hiding some many things from them, she was really disappointed. She hoped that Hazumi could be the one to bring happiness to their family again, but now… she didn't even know anymore.

"Perhaps she likes golden hair and it's just a coincidence." – Erza shrugged and Lucy sighed.

"I know, I thought so and told myself to stop imagining things, but… I don't know… I've got a hunch that she's not someone we thought she was and the more important problem is… I promised uncle that I would help Sting accept her, but now I have to reconsider it again."

"If you're worried so much about her hiding something from you, then google some information about her on the internet or something, don't tell her or anybody until you know exactly who she is." – Erza suggested. Lucy thought for a moment then nodded.

"Seem like a good idea, thank you, Erza." – She smiled at the red hair girl.

"Question, Lucy: I know that you and them are childhood friends, but is that necessary that you have to stay at their house almost the whole week?" – Natsu inquired nonchalantly.

"I have to help them to get to know Hazumi, she's the only woman there." – She shrugged.

"I know, but sometimes I don't even know where you are staying anymore, the dorm or their house." – He muttered.

"Ooh... someone's jealous" – Gray whistled.

"I'm not jealous, I'm just worried about her safety."

"Well no need to, they won't hurt her or something so stop overdo it, Natsu." – Erza looked like she had given the duo the green light.

"Yeah, thanks Natsu, but no need to" – Lucy smiled at him, but Natsu just looked away.

It was hard for him to see her face when she just hang around them almost 24/7 and every time he spotted her at the hall, the school yard… she was either fooling around with Sting or talking and laughing with Rogue. And the most annoying thing that those bastards would find a way to get on his nerves when they saw him by expressing… those… lovey-dovey acts like touching her cheek, caressing her hair, hugging her or even worse – kissing her cheeks and she would blush cutely like one of their fangirls.

Really, he couldn't even believe that they were just friends anymore. Natsu didn't know why he was feeling these… feelings, he had considered the possibility that he was jealous but then again… jealous was only for people who was in love, right? Natsu didn't love her, he liked her… as a friend… okay maybe a little bit more than a friend…. Alright a lot more than a friends, but he-didn't-love-her, right?

Urrrggg. I wished she were a dude, that would be easier.

He thought.

No wait, she can't be a dude, if she was a dude and I like her, then that mean… I'm gay? His eyes wide opened.

OH, HELL NO. He internally slapped himself for thinking such things.

Maybe I could ask her to hang out with me this weekend, just the two of us like when we were still in America. Yeah, that could work.

End of chapter 10

Thank you for reading, following, making this your favorite story :)

Special thanks to SimplyIsabelleS, Psyka, AnimexXxLuvver, Lucy Queen of the Stars, I'm . such . a . geek, Mandy422 for reviewing :D Love you guys.

Lucy Queen of the Stars: He will soon dear :D I'm working on it :D

And another thanks to SimplyIsabelleS for reminding me of mistakes that I made in the last chapter. I'm so sorry guys, when I read it again I had thought that "Gosh what the hell is wrong with you, you made so many mistakes" -_- So horrible, I also had to fix the time landmark urgggg ... Please forgive me.

I'm so sorry for the late update again, my state of mind wasn't really stable to write anything :) Anyway tell me what you think about the new mother :D I finished chapter 11 and I'll update it tonight or tomorrow. See you soon :D