Chapter Text

Lucy, Natsu, and Happy were on their way to visit Lucy's Father, Jude Heartfilia but when they got to the guild, they found out that Jude had died from some kind of sickness. Lucy, Natsu, Happy then left and Lucy was silent the whole time, with no emotion on her face. Natsu looked at Lucy with worry and sympathy.

"Lucy-

"Happy!" Natsu interrupted Happy and shook his head. He knew Happy only wanted to cheer up Lucy, but he knew from experience that no jokes or comments will help.

Two bratty teenage girls walked by, talking about how much they hated their dads because they wouldn't buy them the stuff they wanted. Lucy bit her lip at the arrogance, Happy scowled, and Natsu's blood boiled with rage.

Natsu looked at the sad face Lucy was making and couldn't hold it back anymore. "Hey! Can't you sense the mood, you spoiled brats?!" He snapped.

The two girls gave him a cocky look. "How are we supposed to sense the mood of strangers?!" One of the girls yelled back.

"Just shut up and get out of here!" Natsu yelled and the two girls huffed. "We were on our way anyway!"

"Go!" Happy joined in, standing beside Natsu.

When they left Natsu looked back at Lucy only to see her continuing on her way without a word. "Should we go after her?" Happy asked and Natsu shook his head. "Nah, give her some time alone."

…

2 weeks later,

"What?! She still hasn't come to the guild?!" Natsu exclaimed after just coming back from a job. Gray scoffed. "Can you blame her? Her old man died only 2 weeks ago; do you really expect her to be in the mood to go on any job?"

"No, but I thought she would at least come to see us." Natsu said. "Has anyone even checked on her?"

"I've tried but she refuses to talk to me." Levi said, sadly. "I think we should give her a little more time."

Natsu shook his head. "No way! I'm going to check on her!" Gajeel growled. "She won't let you in! She's locked all the doors and windows!"

Natsu grinned. "Since when has that ever stopped me!" He said before taking off.

…

At Lucy's,

She was laying on her bed tiredly, after crying again for hours. Ever since she read that letter the tears just won't stop and she can't help herself from rereading the letter over and over every day.

A knock suddenly came from her door, and she sighed, covering her face with her pillow. "Go away, Levi!"

"It's Natsu!" Lucy gasped slightly upon hearing his voice and sat up. "You going to let me in or am I going to have to break the door down!"

Not wanting to have to pay for a damaged door, Lucy got up and unlocked the door, letting Natsu in. She immediately went back to her bed afterwards. "...What do you want, Natsu?"

"I came to check on you. How are you holding up?" Natsu asked, he didn't sound worried, but he was. Lucy rolled to her side, facing away from him. "I'm fine Natsu, now please leave."

"No way. Not happening...Come on, Luce, you've been in your apartment for 2 weeks, you can't keep living like this…I don't think your dad would want you living like this."

Lucy sat up with angry tears running down her eyes. "How do you know?! You never knew him?! I'm sorry that I am sad right now Natsu, but you have no idea what I'm going through!"

Natsu looked at her with a hurt expression. "...I do know. Did you forget that I lost my dad, too?" Lucy's eyes widened and she immediately felt guilty. "...I'm sorry, Natsu. I've been so focus on what happened to my dad that I completely forgot-

"It's fine." Natsu said softly and took a seat next to her. "You're just sad right now, I get that, believe me. When Igneel disappeared, I hid in a cave for almost 3 months, not wanting to believe that he was really gone until Gramps found me and I joined the guild. It still hurts knowing he's not around to see what I've done but I'm happier now than I was 7 years ago because I gained so many awesome friends!"

Lucy smiled a bit before frowning. "Honestly, I don't know what's worse. Your situation or mine. I never loved my dad, even when I was a kid but, on that day, I thought that he was in danger, I felt like we could actually become a family, I thought that our relationship could change but then that dragon took that chance away from me and now I will never get the chance. You, however, grew up with a dad who you admired and loved and in return he loved you. I know where my dad is, I know he's dead and is with my mom right now, but you don't know anything. You don't know where Igneel is, if he's dead or alive. I can't imagine what that must be like for you, knowing that he's out there somewhere and nowhere near finding him or finding out what happened to him."

Natsu frowned. "It isn't easy." He admitted. "I know it's hard to believe, Lucy but even I have my days where all I can think about is the bad. I have days where I think I will never find him and some days I think about what could have caused him to leave me."

He paused and Lucy noticed his once shiny brown eyes, turning dull. "...Sometimes…I wonder if he left because of something I did wrong…"

Lucy shook her head and grabbed Natsu's face, forcing him to look at her stern face. "That is not true, Natsu! I know it! Every story you have told me about you and Igneel…I can feel the love he had for you! Igneel loved you Natsu and I'm sure he is out there somewhere, waiting for you to find him! I can feel it!"

Natsu felt a couple tears in his eyes. "...Why do you think he left, Lucy?" Lucy frowned. "I don't know, Natsu. Have you ever considered the possibility that he left because he thought that it was best for you or because he wanted to protect you from something?"

Natsu chuckled and wiped the tears from his eyes, embarrassed. "Sorry, I came here to cheer you up and you're here trying to cheer me up, instead." Lucy smiled. "It's fine, we're family, right? It's what we do."

Natsu smiled at her and nodded. The two sat quietly for a while until Natsu decided to break the silence. "Hey, Lucy."

She looked at him. "Hm?"

"Your old man loved you too." He said which took Lucy off guard. "I mean, I know he was a jerk and all but…I think it was because he was hurting inside himself. I'm sure he missed you over the 7 years we've been gone."

Lucy wiped a few tears running down her eyes. "Thanks, Natsu…" With a deep breath, she got out of bed and put on a smile. "Ok, I'm ready to go back to the guild now."

Natsu smiled widely and stood up. "Then let's go!"