A/N: Sorry for the wait, Fairytailllover, here you go! Thank you, Infinities Lover, happy you enjoyed! Thank you to both Guest reviewers! To Bentears, I don't think I could choose between Kick Ass Lucy and Protective Natsu but I love them both! Haha, Woobaby, indeed he did! Thank you sooo much, Melime14! Coolanime14, thank you! :D MASSIVE THANK YOU TO Wolf123! I can't believe you said everything you did, you have no idea how much you made my day with that review. I still can't believe it, obviously I think it's far from perfect but I'm so overwhelmed that you love it so much so far! I'll update you guys on any new upcoming Fairy Tail fics, if you want! You have no idea how honoured I am that you think this is the best fanfiction you've ever read since I know there are so many more amazing ones out there, so everything you said is just amazing, thank you so much. And you weren't be annoying, I'm flattered everyone keeps asking for more frequent updates but I update every Friday, unless I get a burst of inspiration then I'll have a chapter up earlier. It's updated weekly because of school and other commitments, sorry! x

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Bittersweet Reunion

Love and Lucky.

Lucy stared up at the Merchant Guild's sign, clearly delaying the moment she'd have to step inside the building. She'd read over the letters more than just a few times, spelling them out in her mind. Love and Lucky. Love-and-Luc-ky. L-O-V-E A-N-D L-U-C-K-Y. The Celestial Mage wasn't exactly certain on why she was putting off the simple task of entering this place. She recalled the last encounter she'd had with Jude Heartfilia, the man she was determined to meet with at this moment. It was here where they'd last seen each other. This was where her parents worked before her father began the Heartfilia Konzern business. This was where Layla and Jude had stood when a letter had fallen from the sign of the Guild. This was where they laughed about it, as Jude had stated they thought it was one of the funniest things in the world at the time. It was also where her name had been chosen as the sign had read Love and Lucy. She smiled in a saddened way at the bittersweet memory. So much had changed since that time. Had her father always been the businessman he was? Was he like that when Layla had met him? Or had he only changed into a neglecting man when the Heartfilia Konzern business really took off? Lucy shook her head. Now was not the appropriate time to be thinking about displeasing memories such as those. She was here to see her father as the new man she hoped he was. Maybe this entire ordeal over the past few months had really made him aware that money was not truly everything, and that there were more things to life.

She reached to push open the doors when they were already pulled inwards as someone from inside the Guild began to depart. She looked up and met her father's eyes, who blinked a few times, as if not believing it was really her. He pushed the doors back before his gaze focused back to her.

"Lucy…" Jude's mouth was agape in surprise at her presence. "Is that you?"

"Good afternoon, Father." Lucy replied, giving a slight nod to confirm his question. "I see you're doing better." She said, noticing how he'd returned to his normal look, his facial hair having been reverted back to the usual moustache of his and how his blonde locks had been trimmed, no longer a scruffy mess resting upon his shoulders. He was wearing one of the expensive suits she'd constantly seen him in during her childhood and she wondered if he'd sold any of them for some profit to help him get by. People would pay good money for the fancy, hand-made attire, she knew that for a fact. She was glad at his fresh appearance, seeing him like this cheered up her previously sour mood that had arrived soon after her fight with Natsu. Jude was doing well, getting by just fine it seemed. It'd been a few months after all. She wasn't aware of how such a thing could lift her spirits so high. Mr Heartfilia nodded at her statement, confirming it.

"Business is going much better than I expected." He informed as he glanced around the Merchant Guild, gesturing to it as he spoke. "I picked up some work quite quickly, as a matter of fact. It's a little slow, but I'm working with old partners your mother and I used to associate with. This is where it all started, after all." He said. Lucy nodded once more. This was in fact where all his business propositions began coming in, where he began working his way up. "Aside from that, why are you here, Lucy?" He asked, arching an eyebrow. "Is something the matter?" he questioned. Lucy shifted uncomfortably as he looked to the large book under her arm. "What's that?"

"It's one of the reasons I came here today, father." The blonde-haired teenager answered simply. "I have a few things I need to speak with you about."

"Oh." Jude blinked a few times, peering at his daughter as he wondered about whatever it could be. He looked back to Love and Lucky before he began walking. "It'd be best if we speak in private, then." He decided. "I'll escort you to my home, it's a little while away from here." He informed. Lucy sighed in relief, she would rather that then having to converse about a sensitive topic revolving around the late Layla Heartfilia in public. Transferring the book into both of her arms, she hugged it against her chest, following after him, remaining silent. He chose not to speak either, knowing that if either attempted small talk it would make the air between them feel even more awkward.

Lucy had expected it to be like this, yet not as bittersweet as it felt.

LINE BREAK

She had also expected the house her father spoke of to be nothing fancy.

She was correct this time.

It was an old house a little while's walk away from Love and Lucky, seeming like an abandoned shack at first glance. Weeds grew through the cracks in the pavement and the stairs leading onto the porch were crumbling underneath Jude's weight as he stepped up them. The walls were thinly coated with a paint that was a faded dull grey. It seemed to be peeling on closer inspection. Lucy jolted as the wooden railing fell into pieces as her father so much as brushed against it. The floorboards of the porch creaked, making both Heartfilia's looked downwards with mirrored unease as a few squeaked in protest from the weight and one completely caved in, disappearing into the darkness underneath. Each step either person took elicited a groan from the timber. Lucy glanced around at the dried up grass surrounding the cottage and frowned. Untidy would be an understatement. If anything, the wild plants were bringing a splash of much needed colour to the area. She knew better than to judge so she kept her lips sealed as she was beckoned to enter the house. She dusted off the bottom of her boots on the welcome mat in order to refrain from tracking dirt inside before the blonde-haired girl looked up. She sighed with what she guessed was relief when she realised that the interior was much more pleasant that what remained outdoors.

The front entrance lead into the living area of the house, the room's layout basic enough to compare to what she'd seen at various client's houses. She was sure her father would've had a reality check after beginning to live in a place like this. The floorboards had been covered with an expanse of maroon carpet which complemented the white and amber patterned wallpaper. There was a single leather couch accompanied by two matching armchairs either side, all facing a stacked bookshelf resting against the wall. Across the room was, strangely enough, a hammock holding a few novels. Lucy peered at it for a moment before turning around on her heel, taking it the quality of the cleanness surrounding her. Not a speck of dirt was visible, not one strand of carpet undusted. Just as she was wondering who would have done such an amazing job –surely her father wasn't capable of this if he was as busy as he let on– a middle-aged woman entered with a broom in hand. Her familiar square-shaped face and dark purple hair was a welcoming sight as the Stellar Mage recognised her instantly.

"Ms. Supetto!"

At the sound of her name, the maid turned and her dark eyes widened.

It was as if time had repeated itself and Lucy was arriving at the Heartfilia Estate when the maid had been cleaning outside, the elder woman being the first to catch sight of her to alert the other members of staff. However no other former servants were seen this time. Dusting off her apron, the woman practically threw herself forward, ignoring the height difference, and hugged her mistress tightly, crying her name in complete joy. Lucy laughed at the gesture before returning it. "I didn't know you were still employed by my father." she said, smiling with a sense of fondness as the purple-haired woman began to cry at seeing the blonde after so long.

"I p-promised to always serve with your f-family," the maid babbled, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. "Jude and Layla were so k-kind to take me in w-when I had n-no work o-opportunities all t-those years ago." she shook her head as they broke apart. "After the business was b-bought out, everyone was f-forced to move out of the e-estate, and Jude was k-kind enough to allow me to s-stay here, so I've been cleaning w-whenever it's been needed, f-free of charge." She explained. The youngest Heartfilia nodded in understanding. After years for serving for their family, Ms. Spetto had done a tremendous job whenever she was given a task to complete, living up to all the duties that came along with the profession she practiced. "I admit t-there's quite a l-lot to do in terms o-of outside…" she added, chuckling quietly alongside her mistress as they both glanced through one of the windows across from where they were standing. Jude stood in the doorway, watching the reunion with a smile of his own.

Lucy wasn't used to seeing him smile this much since her childhood.

Ms. Spetto looked from Jude to his daughter before she hurriedly regained her composure. "I-I'll make you two some tea!" she blurted, rushing off through a door which Lucy presumed lead to the kitchen. She took a seat on the leather couch, resting the ancient book on the armrest, sighing in relief as she no longer had to carry the heavy thing. It had been responsible for almost making her arms fall asleep because of its extreme weight. Jude sat down beside her, dusting off his hands on his trousers before he turned to look at her, waiting for her to speak. She offered a weak smile in return, tapping her fingers absentmindedly on her knees as she remained quiet, slightly impatient for the maid to return with the promised beverages.

This felt like it was going to be an awkward talk and she'd honestly feel quite a bit better with one of her favourite drinks in hand.

LINE BREAK

A grateful smile was sent Ms. Spetto's way as Lucy eagerly accepted the tea, thanking the woman and watching her go as the maid retreated off to another room to give the two privacy. Both Heartfilia's sipped their refreshments, the younger delaying the moment where she'd have to step forward (yet on this occasion only as a metaphor) for the second time that day.

"What would you like to talk about with me, Lucy?" Her father asked.

Now or never, Lucy. She told herself. Lucy rested the fine china back onto its saucer and cleared her throat.

"I returned from completing my first solo mission yesterday afternoon, Father." She informed, giving a small smile as he leaned forward in surprise and legitimate interest, something she'd never received from him before. "I'm sure you were aware of the Dark Guild being brought through town by the Magic Council…" she waited for him to nod and confirm her suspicions. "…well I was the one who apprehended them, alongside my Celestial Spirits, of course." A soft blush graced her cheeks as he looked at her in a way he'd never done so in the past...with pride. His expression showed how he was feeling towards her and she realised that he was actually proud of her for once.

"Truly?" he asked, leaning back in his seat in what she guessed as shock, though he quickly regained his composure. "That's a tremendous effort, Lucy. I heard of their strength, and I…" he trailed off for a moment, consumed within his own thoughts before he looked to her again. "You're truly turning out like Layla…" He said, half to himself. Lucy flinched at the mention, yet he did not seem to notice. "She'd be proud, you should be proud as well." At his words, Lucy lowered her gaze, staring at her blurred reflection in the tea, wondering if she could ever really live up to the greatness her mother once achieved as a Stellar Mage herself. Even if she resembled her mother so beautifully and had been gifted with some of her past Spirits, she knew she couldn't compare, even begin to. Was that really one of the reasons I decided to join a Guild? She asked herself, feeling sadness plague her heart as it always did whenever she reminisced about the late Layla Heartfilia. To live up to the legacy she left behind? To stand in her place for the sake of Capricorn, Cancer and Aquarius, as they were handed to me as soon as she passed? Am I trying to be like her? Am I?

"Please continue, Lucy." Jude's voice broke her from her own inner monologue. Right, what was I saying again? She wondered before gathering her thoughts as she remembered what she was talking about.

"Apart from my reward money, I was also gifted with something else." She said. "I came across a strange Celestial Key and after arriving home, I found two other strange things included with the jewels I was given." She passed the strange book over to her father and held up the latest addition to her Gate Key collection. "I couldn't find anything out about whatever Spirit this key opens the gate to." She sighed. "And I can't read anything in that book so it's practically useless to me…" Lucy then carefully brought out the letter she'd been treasuring since the moment she became aware of its presence. She pressed it into her father's hands, watching to see his reaction once he read it. "It's in the same foreign runes as the book is." She murmured. "And, as you can see, only the first and last line are in English-"

"Dear Lucy…" Jude read. "Love…Layla Heartfilia…" He went still, blinked a few times, and read it again. "She…you're saying that Layla wrote this?!" He demanded. Lucy slowly nodded, her eyes widening as she saw his hands trembled as he grasped the paper tightly. "Why…" he muttered. "Why would Layla…why would your mother leave you a letter in a language you can't read?!"

"That's why I'm here…" Lucy responded calmly, knowing that her own reaction and thoughts were practically being replayed right before her eyes. "I…I believed that maybe you would know something about this…maybe if you knew if she'd written it sometime ago or-"

"I'm…I'm sorry, Lucy." Jude sighed, shaking his head in despair as he gave the letter back. "I truly have no clue of the contents of this, I had no idea this letter even existed until today." He said. She clutched the paper to her chest, feeling her throat tighten at the newfound information. Just like that, Lucy's hopes slowly faded away into nothingness. If he couldn't help her, who could? No one else would've been there to see her write the message, right? She looked to the man beside her. She noticed how his shoulders drooped in sadness, alike to her own, and emotion flickered in his gaze. Depression and grief paired well together behind his dark orbs, she knew that especially well from experience in seeing both feelings. She'd seen that look in her own eyes before, many more times then she'd ever care to admit over the years.

"Then…" Lucy's voice was much softer now, her father straining to hear it. Defeat was laced through her words, she could hear it herself, loud and clear. "…do you have any way of contacting Bero? An address or something alike to that? I believe with his vast knowledge of Celestial Magic, he might know something about this key…maybe something about the runes in the letter." She said, hoping her last option would be her most useful.

"Bero…I haven't heard from him since the company was bought out."

She had gotten her hopes up for no reason, obviously. She looked away, unsure of how to act in response. What could she do now? She'd made absolutely no progress and all of her options so far had given her nothing useful. She needed to figure out what this message said like she needed to breathe, but learning anything about the book, key and letter seemed impossible.

The Grandfather Clock in the far corner of the living space chimed thrice, breaking through the tense silence while jolting Lucy slightly. She glanced towards it, smiling faintly as she read the time, imagining Horologium saying it himself in her mind. The time is exactly three o'clock. She bit her lip to stop herself from letting a small laugh escape as the thought seemed to brighten her spirits slightly.

"Lucy, you should know something else, even if it's not related to our current topic of conversation." Jude suddenly spoke up again, catching her attention. "Although most the money gained from Heartfilia Konzern has been taken after it was bought, I still deposited a great deal away for you after you left as your inheritance." He brought out a slip of paper and pressed it into her hands. "You'll be unable to gain access to it until you're eighteen years of age, but I know you'll put it to good use." He patted her shoulder affectionately as she unfolded the paper and found directions to the bank where he'd placed the jewels.

"Father-" she began, astounded.

"I'm not asking you to attempt to buy back the company, but my will had been written before it was bought out, so some finances are still left over for you as you are the only heir to the old fortune." He explained. "If there is anything I want, it is for us to keep the estate in good shape." He sighed as he remembered the day the angelic statue resembling his late wife was taken away and her grave had to be moved. "It is your childhood home, after all." He said, though he didn't need to remind her. Her fondest memories of her mother had all come from that mansion and she wouldn't let it be forgotten…yet it'd take a large sum of money to gain ownership of it once again, they both knew that fact well. Jude then checked his watch, abruptly rising from his seat. "I have to get back to work, my apologies, Lucy." He said

Lucy nodded and rose as well. "It's fine." She said. "I have to get back in order to catch the train back to Magnolia in time." She set her tea down on the coffee table, regretting she'd let it gone cold. Hugging the book to her chest and tucking the letter and key safely away, she faced her father. "Goodbye, Father." She whispered. He nodded, moving to the door to open it for her.

"If you chose to visit again sometime…" he let the sentence die out as she simply nodded.

"I'll find some time." She promised. "When you're not working."

They both nodded at each other and she turned away, carefully making her way down the fragile set of porch steps before walking away from the house.

Their conversation had gone for much longer than she had expected, judging by the sun's placing in the sky. It was hard to believe she'd spent enough time there to leave just before sundown. Lucy shook her head, staring down at the ground as she walked, leaving her father's property behind and journeying along the cobblestone road as she headed towards the train station.

Then, just as she'd purchased her train ticket, she turned and called out to Happy, who jumped in surprise, not knowing that she'd seen him.

She'd noticed a blur of blue tailing after them as her father lead her back to his new home, yet had dismissed it as her imagination until she saw a glimpse of white, what she guessed were the exceed's wings. He came out of his hiding place as she knelt down, meeting his height, almost. "Did the others send you after me?" she questioned, baffled as to why he'd bother following her here. Happy shuffled in a slightly guilty fashion as he averted his gaze. Lucy sighed and offered a tired smile. "It's fine, Happy. I'm just about to leave, anyway." She said. "Come on, we're going home."

"Sorry, Lucy…" he mumbled as they boarded the train. "We were worried because-"

"It's fine, Happy." She repeated. "It's alright."

Happy closed his mouth and sat on the chair beside her, keeping quiet as more passengers began to fill up the booths around them.

LINE BREAK

"I'm sorry~!" Happy wailed as he flew into the Guild with a despaired expression, flying straight into Mira's arms as Lucy entered soon after. Her friends blinked up in surprise at her arrival and realised that she'd probably seen the exceed while he was "being a ninja." Erza murmured something about Mira paying up as the two women had bet on the likelihood of the cat being spotted. The Weapon Mistress had clearly one, stating a few moments after Happy had left on his "mission" that he would be found out. Mira seemed to sulk slightly as she comforted the blur of blue in her arms.

"You didn't need to send him to spy on me." Lucy laughed, waving her hand in the air. "I was just visiting my Dad, it's not like he was gonna kidnap me or anything."

"Sorry about that, Lucy." Mira spoke on behalf of their friends. "It was wrong of us-"

"No harm done." Lucy assured before she looked to the pink-haired Fire Mage who had moved beside her. "Sorry about yesterday." She added quietly, deciding to be the first to say it to clear the air between them.

He blinked up at her in confusion before collecting his thoughts. "Nah, it was my fault," He said, shaking his head. "Don't say sorry, I should be saying that. Oh, yeah, about that," he chuckled, remembering what he had planned to say from the moment she came in. "Sorry Lucy, I-"

"It's fine." She said, causing him to break out into a smile. She'd been assuring people quite a lot today, hadn't she?

"Cool?" he asked, raising his hand, extending his arm towards her. She nodded and they laced their fingers together in the air, squeezing tight. They smiled before retracting their hands and slapping them in a high-five. "So…" Natsu began, lifting a flyer up in the air. He grinned as she took the paper from his grasp and looked over it. "Happy and I thought we should go on a job since we left you hanging last week." He explained, waiting as she read the request. "We don't even have to go that far out of town, it's just a half hour long walk, we'll be right."

"Natsu chose the one with the smallest amount of transportation~!" Happy sang in a teasing voice, causing Natsu to turn and glare at him.

"Did not!" He argued. "I just thought if Lucy had been riding a train more than once today that she wouldn't wanna go on another!"

"You're lying!" Happy laughed. "You just don't wanna get motion sickness!"

"Does it really matter?" Lucy asked, giggling at their childish argument.

"It doesn't matter." Natsu shook his head, grasping the Celestial Mage's wrist. "Let's just go, already!"

"Aye!" Happy cheered.

"Come on!" Natsu hollered as he headed out into the early afternoon air, pulling Lucy along behind him as the two of them laughed, the blonde-haired girl waving the request above their heads in a joking matter. "We'll be back soon!" The Dragon Slayer yelled as a farewell.

"I like it when they're not fighting." The Take-Over Mage sighed as soon as the group were out of earshot.

"Yes." Erza nodded in agreement. "So do I."

The two S-Class Mages turned their attention back towards the original "Team Natsu" and watched as the three of them disappeared into the sunset with content smiles.

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