With the sobbing in the background, Natsu could barely concentrate on anything.
His leg bounced as he sat on the chair beside his father who was in the midst of going through emails threads and juggling speaking over the phone with whoever. Jude was in the same position, his loud angry shouts clear from down the hall while Grandine was busy soothing the bawling woman on the couch against the wall.
It's been over six hours since he had received that phone call and he hadn't been able to be still since, his heart pounding and his mind racing as he thought about his wife and his unborn baby girl.
The first thing he did after he got that phone call was scream and punch the steering wheel, unable to understand what the hell had just happened. Anger and disbelief bubbled inside of him and he really thought he was dreaming because this shit only happened in movies.
He then ran inside, ignoring all the maids as he ran to his parent's room to burst in there. His mother looked like she had just gotten up, her hair ruffled and said woman still in her Heartfillia classic nightie. She was startled, shouting at him that he shouldn't just barge into rooms like a madman and he raced towards the bathroom door while ignoring her too.
If this wasn't serious, Natsu probably would have bursted out in laughter about how his father shrieked like a little girl when he had kicked the door open but he was on a time crunch and his heart was pounding.
"What the hell is this about, Natsu?! Can't a man shower in peace?!"
"For goodness sakes, what could possibly be so important you're kicking doors in and baring into—"
"Lucy got kidnapped last night and I just got a phone call asking for a million dollars or she dies."
The sound of the shower was the only thing that could be heard as everyone grew silent. It was so loud that it began to thicken and Igneel was quick to shut the water off, wiping his face off the droplets as he finally turned to look at his son who was paler than he's ever seen him.
"Repeat what you just said." The hardness on his face showed business and Natsu swallowed hard, his fists clenched.
"I just got a phone call from someone who claims they have Lucy and they want a million dollars wired or else she dies. They said I have forty eight hours." He held his phone up, trembling as Grandine gasped. "Lucy's mom called me this morning and said she's missing. I tried calling her and I even called her friends. One of her friends told me she asked to come over last night and never showed up and that was around twelve in the morning."
Igneel was out of the shower, towel wrapped around his waist as he barreled through his son and wife.
Natsu had never seen his father so frantic, calling this or that person and working as fast as he could. His mother erupted into a sob as she rushed out to probably call Layla and figure things out.
He felt so empty but so full at the same time. Full of rage and worry and fear.
He blamed himself for this.
He knew he should have gone home with her but he really wanted to work on the house overnight so they could move in a lot faster.
It wasn't fair to her that he left her alone on the night of the gender reveal party and she was probably lonely or something was going on for her to wander to Cana's house that late at night.
Was she craving something? Or someone's presence? Was she hurt? Is the baby alright?
He had no idea what was going through her mind and he was sure to go off on her for her stupidity.
But as time went on and everyone was scrambling for a way to track this unknown, Natsu just felt as if a huge weight was crushing him down slowly and very painfully.
"What the hell is taking so long?" Natsu finally shouted, shooting up in his chair to stand. "Have you even called Laxus?"
"That's who I am on the phone with right now," Igneel hissed, not taking his eyes off the screen. "He's going through call files and digging in. Our security team is already aware and trying to track the call right now so if you could just shut up."
"It's been over six hours! Who knows what has happened!"
"Everyone is working as fast as they can! There is nothing more I can do but be patient so I suggest you do the fucking same!"
"How can you expect me to just fucking sit here and be patient when my wife and unborn child is somewhere out there with some sleazy bastard that are potentially hurting her!"
"Then make yourself fucking useful and call up someone rather than sitting here and barking at me!"
"Boys," Grandine warned, her sharp glare forcing them to stop bickering. The older Dragneel held onto the blonde woman who shook from sorrow and worry, her stern voice and expression shaking the two from their bickering. "That's enough."
Natsu just groaned out in frustration, hands running through his messy hair as he tugged on the ends. He started to pace around the room. "Who knows what they've done to Lucy?! To Nasha?!"
"Nasha?" Layla's wobbly voice broke the silence as they turned to look at her. "You two picked a name?"
"Lucy did," Natsu swallowed hard at the heartbroken expression she wore. "She said she really liked the name from the start."
"Oh, my babies," Layla sobbed, voice breaking as her tears fell down her already red puffy face. "She must be so scared."
"Lucy is a strong woman," Grandine reassured, holding her best friend tightly against her frame. "I know she's going to be alright."
"What do you need from me?" Natsu turned back to his father who had his phone pinched between his head and shoulder while his fingers were rapid speed on the keyboard.
"Nothing." Igneel said as he finally put down his phone, the device clattering loudly against the wooden surface. "We got a location."
"Then what are we waiting for!" The heir shouted, storming over to his father's desk. "Let's go!"
Igneel exchanged a look with his wife who gave him a knowing look. A slight nod was all he had to get as he stood from his seat, yanking on his bottom drawer where a shiny pistol slid across the surface to come into view. Natsu watched with wide eyes as the man expertly shifted the gun open, checking if there were any bullets in before he clicked it in place and shoved it into his waistband.
Igneel looked up and locked eyes with his son, his aura changing completely. "You have to stay here."
"What!" Natsu shouted, disbelief clearly present on his face. "I'm not going to sit here and wait for you to come back with my wife. She needs me!"
"Exactly why you need to stay." His father said, rounding the corner as he marched towards his door. Natsu followed close behind, angering words spewing from his mouth.
"I'm going! You're not going to force me to stay back and—"
"Jude!" Igneel yanked open the door, shouting for his friend down the hall. "We got the location. Let's go!"
"Dad!" Natsu grabbed onto his arm, yanking him back but Igneel simply jerked his arm free. "I'm going!"
"Natsu," Igneel whirled around, glaring at him with such intensity it made him stiff. "You are to stay here with your mother and Layla and protect them. Wendy is to be coming home soon and you need to keep her safe. I can't have you go and be reckless. This is serious."
"I'm serious, too." Natsu growled right back, glaring. "I'm not going to sit here and wait for you to come back. She needs me."
They both stared at each other, eyes burning and the atmosphere thickening with each passing second. The sound of Jude's feet echoed down the hall and he was at the door within seconds, looking as distressed as ever.
"Natsu," Igneel said slowly, making sure he was listening. "I can't risk putting you in a situation like this. I promise you will know once I get her out of there safely. You don't even know how to properly use a gun and who knows if there is going to be a shoot out—" He stopped speaking as Natsu quickly reached for him, snagging the gun from his waistband in a flash as the red-haired man watched with wide eyes. "Natsu—!"
Natsu didn't say anything but pull back the slide, the click of the metal echoing as the bullets all rushed out in his hands. He swiftly put in all the bullets again, clicking the safety back on and whirling it in his finger before he held it right up to his father in a matter of seconds.
Igneel watched with wide eyes, frozen in place as Natsu held a gun to his face.
After what felt like a very long time, his son finally lowered the gun and shoved the weapon into his waistband.
Slightly impressed but a bit terrified that his own son knew how to handle such a weapon, his eyes traveled to look at his wife.
Grandine seemed pleased almost as she stared at her son before her eyes found her husband's, silently communicating with their eyes.
"Let him go. He's not going to back down from this."
"Grandine—" Igneel tried to say but Natsu beat him to it.
"I've been knowing how to fire a gun since I was fifteen, dad. You can yell at me for it later but Gray's dad taught us how to properly use one and I am not going to let you leave without me." His stern gaze bore into his father's. "Now, let's go. We're waisting time."
Jude slapped Igneel in the back, the red-haired Dragneel turning to look at his friend to see the same expression his own wife gave him. "We'll keep an extra eye on him. I don't think he's going to back down. You know you would be the same if we were in his position."
He let out a sigh, figuring he won't be able to win this argument and started walking with his son out the door. He grabbed him by the back of his shirt, yanking him closer as Natsu yelped, trying to thrash out of his hold.
"I said I'm going—!"
Igneel pulled him close, his nose practically bumping his as he hissed. "If you ever," he paused, watching how the emotions flickered in his son's eyes. "Point a gun at me again, I'll beat you to the brink of death and show you not to mess with me. You don't ever point a gun at someone unless you mean business. You hear me?"
Natsu was silent, calculating his father's emotions and taking in his threat. After a minute, he clicked his tongue and averted his gaze.
"I hear you."
"Alright," Igneel let him go, the heir taking a step back. "Let's go."
"So, what is your end goal here?"
"Does she ever shut up?"
"She can hear you!" Lucy snapped, the blonde clearly not caring she was taken hostage and tied up to a pole. Her hands were bound together by rope and she had about two feet of space but it didn't mean she could do as she pleased.
Lucy found out very quickly that these people weren't going to hurt her but obviously she was taken for ransom. She wasn't dumb to think that they'd sell her as Natsu and her parents had told her repeatedly how much they were targeted due to their background.
But surprisingly, she found herself with a couple of dudes who didn't even seem to be interested in laying a single finger on her. They gave her snacks and water to keep herself hydrated and were kind enough to even lay out a bucket right next to her so she can relieve herself. It wasn't the greatest thing in the world and she was appalled at their brazen behavior, yelling at them for a good five minutes before she realized they weren't forcing her to shut up or anything.
Anyone with ill intentions would have taken the first chance they got to beat her up or even do worse things to her she didn't even want to think about.
And she was a bit reckless since she was pregnant but it didn't seem as if they knew or cared. Natsu's clothes were a blessing in itself as she wore such baggy clothing that they wouldn't even notice if she was careful enough. She had to protect Nasha and if they found out she was pregnant, it could lead to worse consequences than ransom.
She couldn't help but be curious as she cautiously asked simple questions. When they didn't answer, she grew irritated and kept talking, mainly to herself at this point, but continued her conversations.
She did what she could to milk them of information that they clearly weren't going to confess to.
Willingly.
It's been many hours, she wasn't sure how long since she woke up only an hour ago, and she was sure her family already knew of her disappearance. It didn't help that she woke up screaming and crying but they were quick to dismiss her as she calmed herself down. After a good thirty minutes of silence and sobbing that exhausted her to the core.
It was the most weird kidnapping ever as she was left by herself in one corner while these two mute jackasses played cards in the other.
Annoyance and hunger really overpowered her fear and worry. She knew she would get saved one way or another. Her family won't let her down and she trusted whole-heartedly that Natsu was on his way to her.
Now, she was just drowsy, hungry, and honestly too sore to be picking a physical fight. She didn't know what the hell they did to her but it wasn't like her ankles weren't swollen nor was her back hurting before this whole situation. It felt like it was worse now as she was hunched over for a good while, stretching and rolling her limbs.
She really had to get back into tennis—Nasha is truly messing with her body in such a bad way.
"Honestly, this is so tiresome. Did you really have to kidnap me, bring me to some dirty warehouse, and force me to rot away like some animal?" Lucy continued, her back pressed against the cool wall as she sat. "This is so unladylike. My mother would lose her marbles if she saw how you two were treating a woman of class."
"We should have duct taped her mouth." One of the guys sitting by the corner said to the bigger one beside him.
He rolled his eyes, sighing out loud as he held up his deck of cards, trying to focus on their game of poker. "Just tune her out."
"I can't. She's loud."
"She is still here!" Lucy cried out from her spot. "What time is it anyways? Is it even morning or night?"
"What the hell is taking the boss so long anyways? She's obviously not going to escape. It's been over six hours." He ignored her, yawning out loud showing his obvious discomfort and annoyance.
Lucy took a mental note that she had been missing for over six hours at this point, her lips twisting to the side. Her family definitely had to know she was missing. But that also meant that whatever time she had was running out.
She just wonders what the time limit and ransom was.
"Whatever, I'm not going to say or do anything to get my ass kicked."
Lucy sighed out loud, realizing that she wasn't going to get any answers and she pouted. "I'm hungry. Could I get a snack or something?"
"Are you really in a position to be asking us for something?" The one finally answered, turning around to stare at her and Lucy scowled, mustering up her ugliest glare. It must have worked cause he whirled around, refusing to look at her. "Do we have anything to shut her up?"
"Man, I guess I could find something." The other one sighed, setting his cards down as he stood. He cracked his neck side to side and groaned, stretching his limbs. "I'm going to go and see what's takin' boss so long—"
His words were cut off as the opening of the door shook the metal warehouse. Three pairs of eyes followed where the blinding light came from before a tall, ugly man with dark hair and mustache came marching in.
Lucy scrunched her face up in disgust, noticing the creepy gross smile he gave her and she curled inwards, protecting her and her baby.
At least she now knew it wasn't night anymore.
"Lucy Heartfillia," his voice sent chills down her spine. "Or should I refer to you as Lucy Dragneel?"
Lucy sneered at him, refusing to give him an answer. He clearly knew who she was and who her family were so why entertain him?
"I hope you're enjoying your stay."
"I'm not," she glanced over at the two in the corner before looking back. "Who are you? What do you want? Why did you kidnap me and bring me to this creepy warehouse?"
"The name is Jose, my dear." He bowed politely, almost as if he was curtsying. "And what I want," he paused as he walked further into the place, his shoes clicking against the concrete. He approached the blonde who quickly stood, pressing her back against the wall as he stood in front of her. He grinned at her twisted face and she cringed as he reached forward, taking a strain of golden hair between his fingers. "Is to get my life on track. I simply just requested something from your family that won't even put a dent into your fortune."
"Money?" Lucy asked in a bitter tone, disbelief clear on her tone. "You kidnapped me for money?"
"Just like the rest of the world who are enslaved in this capitalist society would do if they were ever put in a tough position." He sighed dramatically, dropping her hair to take a step back. Lucy watched as he paced back and forth, his hands behind his body. "It's people like you who hoard an ungodly amount of capital that should help the members of society in need, don't you think? Why should the rest of the world suffer from minimum wage and debt while you get to sit in your mansion and get someone to wipe your asses for you?"
Lucy stayed quiet, absorbing the information she clearly wanted as her eyes narrowed. She made sure to follow his lead, not wanting to find herself vulnerable enough for him to attack.
"All I asked for was mere child play for such powerful families like yours. I honestly should have asked for more but you see, I'm not the greedy one here." He bared his crooked stained teeth at her. "You are."
"You act like I asked to be born into this world. This life. My parents worked hard to be where they are right now." She clenched her fists, thinking about her family. "Clearly you're just some lazy bastard who can't accomplish things on your own so you have to force innocent people into cleaning up your mess. Just how you hired people to take me instead of taking me yourself." She nudged her head towards the two in the corner, her eyes never leaving his face.
The said man only stared down the blonde who tried her best to not quiver under his gaze. He stopped pacing as well and it made her feel even more nervous, wondering if he was going to hurt her.
"Such foul language for a lady of your class," his lips stretched into a smile, tilting his head to the side. "Did you forget that you're the one who is tied up and at our mercy instead of the other day around?"
Lucy scowled as she bit down on her bottom lip, trying to figure out a way to keep herself safe.
She knew those two wouldn't hurt her but him? He was downright malicious in the way he spoke and held himself and she didn't doubt he wouldn't lay his hands on her if she were to try something.
Jose began his pacing once more, walking carelessly and leisurely as if he didn't fear anything. "To be honest, I don't even really need you." His lips curved up to reveal his teeth once more. "I could dispose of you quite quickly."
"You wouldn't." She challenged, staring him down. "You won't get your reward with me dead."
"I never promised them you would be alive," his stained yellow teeth made her grimace. "Just your body back."
"My family won't let you get away with that. They're going hunt you down like the dog you are and make sure you rot in jail."
Jose sneered, grabbing her harshly by the chin as his fingers gripped her cheeks hard. Lucy whimpered at the sudden action, her eyes shutting close as he leaned in. The smell of cigarette smoke and stale coffee filled her nostrils as he spoke. "You don't know who you're talking to, little girl. I'll blow your fucking head off."
Lucy sneered at him, trying her best to show him she wasn't scared but her heart pounded against her ribcage and her only thought process was her growing baby.
"Hey boss, we shouldn't kill her—"
"Shut up!" Jose shouted, turning his head to face his men who jolted at his command.
Lucy found herself finding a bit of hope in his sentence, considering that he was telling his own boss not to kill her and Jose was probably bluffing to scare her. There is no way her family would allow this man to get away with what he did. Especially if he were to hurt or kill her. She was confident that her husband was going to come and rescue her and beat this bastard to death.
She wouldn't mind and would look the other way in this instance. It seems like he deserves it.
Jose turned back to look back at the blonde who had a small smile to her lips as he yanked her head upright, squeezing harder as she grimaced. "What's so fucking funny? Do you not realize the position you're in?"
"I just think you're so full of shit," her smile widened just a tad. "No wonder you have to stoop this low and kidnap a heiress to pay for your debt. You're just a mindless fool who got himself into trouble and you have to force good people to get you out of it."
Jose looked as if he was about to burst into flames with how red his face got, anger clearly coursing through his body.
She didn't know why she kept talking, words thumbing out of her mouth. "How could you call yourself a man and run away from your own problems. You had to kidnap a vulnerable little girl," she grit her teeth as he yanked at her hair, trying to get her to stop talking. "to save your ass."
He didn't think twice before he lifted his fist and struck her in the face, a yelp echoing in the air. He grabbed her by the neck, yanking her back over to face him as tears pricked her eyes and her lip began to bleed and swell.
"What else do you have to say?"
Lucy inhaled shakily before she spit right on his face, bloody goo splattering all over.
Jose looked taken back for a minute before he struck her again, shouts coming from the two men as Lucy got tossed against the wall. She cried out in pain while she curled up, afraid he might strike her where she was most vulnerable and she gasped out as he grabbed ahold of her by the front of her shirt, pulling her upright once more. He slammed her against the wall and all the air escaped her lungs, her eyes wide as his fingers wrapped around her throat.
His cold fingers squeezed around her airway causing her to choke and cough, struggling to breath right.
"Not so strong now, huh?" He smirked at the way her face swelled and blood stained her teeth and lips.
Lucy only coughed out as he squeezed her neck tighter and she let out a shaky breath, looking down at Jose with so much disgust in her face that he could only laugh.
"Pathetic. All talk and can't even back up your words."
Lucy let out a choked laugh and Jose's face dropped just a slight as he watched the blonde slowly grin at him, her demeanor getting more intense.
"What's so funny, bitch?"
"My husband is going to kill you." She said with a crazed look to her face. "You don't scare me, you ugly stupid pathetic broke lowlife." She spat to the side, her bloody spit covering the floor. "Once my husband finds out you kidnapped me and hit me," her grin grew even wider. "You're dead."
Jose shook with anger, glaring at the blonde who didn't show any ounce of sympathy or fear for him as his grip tightened on her throat.
Lucy gasped for air, clawing at his hand but that didn't stop him as his two henchmen were shouting at him to let her go, cries of worry and fear echoing throughout the warehouse.
"Let her go, boss!"
"She's riling you up! Don't let her!"
"You can't kill her!"
"You're the one dead." Jose growled, ignoring his men while reaching behind him to pull out his pistol he had stashed in his waistband. He put the weapon up to her face, digging the cold metal against her forehead. "Any last words?"
Lucy could barely breathe at this point, unable to form words as her face grew red and her eyes wavered between the gun pointed at her and the grimly face of her attacker.
She blinked back tears as she felt the fear overwhelm her and she wondered if she shouldn't have said anything as she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen as if her baby was trying to escape. Fear and the sense of helplessness washed over her and she whimpered, squeezing her eyes shut.
Natsu!
A click of a gun echoed in the air and the entire room filled with a suffocating thickness that was hard to breathe in. A sound of a single bead of sweat dropping could be heard if anyone was near and Lucy's eyes widened as all she saw was red.
"Put the gun down, Jose or I'll have to apologize for the rest of my life and spend a fuck ton of money in therapy for my daughter-in-law because i'll blow your brains off right in front of her."
"Mr. Dragneel," Jose hissed, his grip loosening as he dropped Lucy.
The blonde instantly fell to her knees, coughing violently as she clutched her stomach and her throat.
"This is simply a misunderstanding. We were just having a slight disagreement in a heated conversation. Nothing is worth holding a gun to my head." The gun was pulled away, the male taking a step away from Lucy. Igneel never let his gun leave his head, following his movements as the said man turned around to face the man.
Igneel never looked as angry as he was at the moment, his eyes dark and narrowed. He sneered at him as if he was the most disgusting thing he's ever seen.
Jude was in the corner with the two men, two guns pressed against their backs. They were stiff as they watched with wide eyes.
"I should have known you would be the one behind this." Igneel's voice was something that only came out of movies—deep, dark, and angry. It sent shivers down Lucy's spine as she watched with tears streaming down her face. "Drop the gun, Jose."
Jose looked down at the blonde on the floor before looking back at Igneel with an unreadable expression.
"Do I still get the money?"
"Are you fucking kidding!" Jude's voice echoed throughout the warehouse making the two guys in front of him jump.
"Jude," Igneel warned, calming his friend down. "Jose, all you're going to get is life in prison and an ass kicking of your life."
Jose was silent for a minute as he was absorbing the information and contemplating his choices. His eyes wandered to look over at his men before a small smile curved upwards and he was moving.
It felt as if everything was in slow motion as he lifted his gun up towards Lucy, a slow click of the safety being removed. Everyone's eyes widened as they realized what was happening and Igneel started to open his mouth, trying to move to get to Lucy or Jose.
When a gunshot rang through everyone's ears, a shriek echoed across the room.
But it wasn't Lucy who fell, instead, Jose choked out as he clutched his shoulder, stumbling backwards as blood began to pour out. "W—why you—!"
Another shot rang and Jose's gun dropped, a scream coursing through as he now held his bloody hand against his chest. "You bastards—!"
Igneel turned to look at Jude, wondering if he had been the one to act but Jude looked the same as his red haired friend did. Then he turned to look behind him and saw Natsu standing there, finger on the trigger and gun still pointed high.
The expression on his face was something he's never seen before on his son. Natsu looked as if he was ready to wipe out an entire city as he prowled over like the wild animal he was. His aura was dark and anger painted his usual sharp features. He came right beside his father, his eyes never leaving the bleeding, cursing body of Jose as he trembled.
"W—who the fuck are you?!" Jose managed to scream, his eyes and sweat lining his face.
Natsu sneered, walking closer to the body that scrambled to press against the wall while the rosy-haired heir looked down at the pathetic withering man.
"I'm Natsu Dragneel," he announced, his barrel still pointed at the man. "Son of Igneel Dragneel and husband of Lucy Heartfillia." He stood tall and proud, his jaw clenching at the thought of this greasy bastard touching his wife. "And your worst fucking nightmare."
"Natsu..!" Lucy cried out and he snapped his head over to see the blonde on the floor.
Natsu instantly backed up, retracting his gun to rush over to his wife who was still on the floor. Her clothes were dirty and she had blood drying around her mouth, her lips swollen and her neck bruised.
He dropped to his knees and scooped her up instantly, holding her close as she buried her head between his neck and shoulder to sob.
"I'm here, baby, I'm right here," Natsu cooed, pulling her deeper into his chest as he felt his heart break. "I'm here." He held her tighter, starting to walk away as the rush of men began to fill the warehouse.
"Keep him alive," Natsu said to his father as he walked past. "I want to repay him back."
Igneel sighed out loud as his men began to rush into the building, collecting the two from Jude's hold while trying to get Jose on his feet. Jose cursed and tried his best to shrug off the men but with his injuries, he was beginning to slur with the loss of blood. Igneel informed the men to patch him up and to keep him in custody until they figured everything out with Lucy, the red-haired CEO meeting up with Jude who were both eager to see the heiress.
When they left the warehouse and stepped out to the sunny afternoon, they saw Natsu sitting in the back of an open ambulance with Lucy still in his arms and a blanket wrapped around her body.
Her body trembled with the shock and she didn't stop crying, forcing Natsu to hold onto her as he was afraid she would break any minute. The look on his face was everything as he held himself together for his wife, his jaw clenched and eyebrows pinched in distress.
Jude rushed over to Natsu's side, placing his arms around the couple as he cried out. Igneel walked over as well, standing in front of his son and best friend hold each other with their golden girl inbetween.
His heart broke for everyone. He didn't know why he felt like it was his fault but it hurt him to see how scared and sad everyone looked.
This was his goddamn family and to think they were safe… he really had to reevaluate his security measures.
"Don't let them take him, dad," Natsu spoke, making him gaze into the dark eyes of his son. "I want to have a chat with him."
"Already taken care of," Igneel held his hand up, his other palm shoved into his pocket. "You and I can have some fun together."
"Don't forget me," Jude said in the midst of crying, sniffling and looking over his shoulder. His arms still stayed wrapped around Natsu and Lucy but he was looking right at Igneel. "He hurt my baby girl."
"Noted. The men will have a field day." Igneel offered a grin and Jude smiled back, wiping tears away. "Let's go home."
Lucy gasped out loud as she shot upright, sweat lining her body as she felt a pair of hands strangling her of her air source. She held onto her throat, coughing violently as she struggled to breath. Tears blurred her vision and she felt like screaming but nothing could come out as her airways felt tight.
The nightmare of Jose choking her out and pushing a gun to her head kept replaying in her mind and she couldn't shake it off, the feeling of fear overwhelming her.
That's when she let out a blood curdling scream that shook her entire body.
"Lucy! Lucy, I'm here! I'm here, baby, I'm here!"
Hearing Natsu's voice made her calm down slightly but it wasn't until she felt his warmth wrap around her trembling figure that she finally felt safe.
A sob erupted from her lips and she was crushed into his chest once again as he held her tight.
The loud footsteps and the door swinging open were heard but Lucy didn't pull away to check as she held onto Natsu for dear life. She could hear the frantic voice of her mother and father but she could barely figure out what they were saying.
All she could see and hear was the click of the gun, the stained grin of Jose, the feel of fear, and the awful stench of blood and gunpowder.
How was it that those were the things she kept seeing? That kept haunting her even after weeks of her rescue?
She could barely leave her room nor be alone as she developed PTSD from her kidnapping. The first few days she was numb and she felt like everything that had happened was a dream. She barely spoke nor did she eat or move out of her bed. Natsu had to force feed her and get her up but she refused to even step foot outside her bedroom.
After the first week had passed, that was when her nightmares started. The constant reminder of what happened kept coming back to haunt her and she would wake up choking and screaming.
It had been like this for almost three weeks—silence, screaming, sobbing, choking, and heartbreak.
She begged Natsu to not leave her, asking him to stay with her at all times and he of course agreed. He slept in the same bed as her, fed her, bathed her, and even held her as she woke up screaming and crying. And everytime she did, her parents would rush into the room and her mother would sob while her father looked bitter.
Nasha seemed fine and healthy as they visited the doctors to ensure her health was on track. Her blood pressure had skyrocketed but nothing kept her, everyone was relieved to hear baby mama and baby were alive and well.
Layla didn't stop crying for two days straight, promising Lucy she would never ever be in a situation like that again and Jude was forced to hire more security to stalk the premises. The Dragneel's had done the same, recruiting a bodyguard for Wendy.
To say the whole kidnapping shook the family and friends was an understatement.
It had broken them.
Lucy refused to leave the safety of her bedroom and if it wasn't for Natsu, she wouldn't be eating or taking care of herself. She only did the bare minimum to ensure Nasha was healthy but it made her sick to do anything. She was worried the stress was going to induce early labor or sickness but she couldn't force herself to do anything but lay in bed.
Natsu understood.
He repaid Jose back tenfold for what he did to his wife and to say he hadn't had this type of fun with his father and father-in-law before was disrespectful.
He was now yearning for this type of fun.
It somehow made Natsu want to become part of the business in a weird type of way but more so in the adventure part where he could look into sleazy bastards who monopolize their way into this world. He has yet to address the entire 'I-can-use-a-gun' situation but his father seemed pleased with the idea that he had that skill set in his life.
He was hoping his father wouldn't find out while he was still living under his roof but it had to come out one day or another.
Now, his only concern was how the hell was he going to get his wife back on track as she was just an empty shell of a person? She didn't even want to talk about what had happened due to her own nightmare and he didn't blame her.
All he knew was that he had hurt her more than anything and it messed her up.
"Baby, I'm here. It's okay. You're safe," Natsu whispered into her hair, rocking her back and forth as she sobbed. Her hiccups shook his body but he held on tight, pressing her into his body while he felt her shake. "We're home. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. Breathe."
"Jude," Layla sobbed, grabbing onto the sleeve of her husband's pajamas. "We really need to get someone to help her. The stress on the baby isn't good for either one of them."
The businessman could only stand there with somber eyes and a clenched fist as he watched his daughter cry and tremble in her husband's arms. He was well aware of what his daughter was going through and had to figure out what could help her.
He just felt entirely hopeless and it broke his heart to see Lucy this way.
The next day, someone was already at the door of the Heartfillia residence and it was a battle to get Lucy to meet her.
"Lucy, she's here to help you—"
"No!" Her shrill voice echoed throughout the house. "I said no! I don't want to see anyone!"
"Lucy," Layla tried, seeing how her daughter bundled herself in her comforter and buried her head into the pillow. She exchanged a wary look with Natsu who sat on the edge of the bed, his lips pressed into a tight line as he stared down at his mother-in-law. "Honey… please."
"I said no!"
"Luce," Natsu's soft voice overpowered the shakiness. "I'm going to be there with you. Please. For Nasha. You've lost so much weight and aren't taking care of yourself…" He pleaded, wanting her to see the doctor as much as everyone else did. "We're all worried about you… I—I miss you."
The slight sobbing from the comforter was all that was heard and it had broken the two at the sight.
Layla realized that it may be too soon or too much for the pregnant woman and had left it at that, her own tears spilling down her orbs as she had left the room.
Natsu could only crawl back into bed, shifting through the bundles of blankets and pillows to peel it away from her. The said blonde was curled up, cradling her swollen belly as she sniffled. Her tear stained face was puffy and red, dark circles rimming her eyes.
The sight was heartbreaking on its own.
"Lucy," he said, gathering her in his arms as she allowed him to. "I'm really worried about you."
"I'm fine," she tried to push him off but his grip tightened on her.
"It's okay not to be." He said, gently pushing her hair from her face. "I don't expect you to be nor does anyone else. But I do need you to take care of yourself. For your and Nasha's sake."
Silent tears fell from her eyes and she could only hug herself, holding onto her belly. Natsu placed his hand on her stomach as well, rubbing his hand against the warmth swell of their baby.
"I'm here," he whispered, reminding her that she was safe and he was around. "And I'm not going anywhere."
She gripped at his shirt and held on tight, her body trembling in his hold as he kissed her tears away.
The only thing she could do was cry and that's what she did.
She cried and cried till she felt numb and exhausted herself into sleep where Natsu rocked her back and forth.
"Her blood sugar and iron levels are a bit low," the doctor hummed as he looked through the paper, standing at the edge of Lucy's bed as Natsu held onto her. "The baby is healthy per say but with the way Lucy has been losing weight, it might cause stress. She is approaching her six month very quickly which means her third trimester in pregnancy. She needs to be careful or she may end up having the baby prematurely."
"Is there anything we could do?" Layla asked, her eyes wide and glossy as she looked between her daughter and the doctor.
"We have tried to get her help and get her to resume a normal life." Jude said, standing beside his wife with his arms crossed. "It… is not easy."
"For the sake of the baby, Lucy needs to."
Lucy's soft whimper was the only thing heard and they all turned to look at her. The blonde was curled into her husband, face buried in between his neck and shoulder as Natsu rubbed his hand up and down her spine, whispering sweet encouraging words in her ear.
They turned back to look at one another and then the doctor who had his lips pressed into a tight line.
"Let's try and get her back on track with at least sleep and meals. She needs to be having at least two nutritious meals a day to help the growth of the baby along with rest to keep her body from tiring out."
"Thank you," Jude ran a hand down his face and back up, running it through his dirty blonde hair. "Allow me to walk you out."
Once the men had left, Layla went over to the bed where her daughter remained.
"Lucy, honey," her soft voice was ignored. "You heard the doctor? We need you to get moving and living life so you can keep Nasha safe and healthy."
"She's safest with me," Lucy huffed, her body curling further into Natsu's. "I'm fine."
"How about a nice walk in the garden, dear?" Layla suggested, a tight smile to her lips. "We have people all around and cameras. Nobody is to get in or get out without us knowing."
"And I'll be right with you," Natsu assured, squeezing her tight against his chest. "Let's get some air and sunlight. It'll be good."
Lucy was silent as if she was contemplating it. She was still curled up against him, body stiff and still as if she was afraid something were to happen.
"Come on, Luce," Natsu encouraged once more. "Just a small five minute stroll. It's a really nice day today."
After a minute longer, Lucy untangled herself from his chest and looked up at him with red puffy eyes.
Natsu smiled softly, brushing her hair away from her eyes. "Come on, baby," he whispered. "Let's go on a stroll."
"Okay." She finally sniffled, making Layla smile for the first time in a while. "Can I use the bathroom first?"
Natsu helped her to her feet, holding her by the elbow as she waddled around. Her swollen belly poked out from the shirt she wore and the two watched her disappear into the bathroom.
"This is progress," Layla said softly, smiling at her son-in-law who offered a smile back.
"I hope it helps." He sighed, running his hand through his hair. "She's been cooped up in here for too long. I'm worried about her and Nasha."
"Don't be," Layla placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "How is the house moving along?"
"I'm hoping we can move in by next week. They just finished painting and they should be doing electrical and plumbing work as we speak."
Layla clapped excitedly, her eyes brightening up. "How exciting! I can't wait."
"Yeah," Natsu's smile faltered slightly. "I'm just worried she might not want to move anymore."
The older blonde frowned along with him, seeing his stress. "I'm sure Lucy will be as excited to move into the home. She just went through something traumatic and incredibly stressful but she is a strong woman and I am sure she'll bounce back soon."
Natsu smiled lovingly at his mother-in-law and the woman gave his shoulder a squeeze. "I'm going to grab something for her to change into." He said before he was going to her closet, rummaging through the endless amount of clothes. He shifted through her t-shirts and dresses, finding a nice sundress along with sandals to dress her in.
When he had come back out, the blonde was back to sitting on her bed, her hand rubbing small circles on her stomach while her own mother rubbed small circles on her back.
"Hey, I got this for you to change into." He held up the pink sundress and sandals, smiling at his wife. "Figured it might make you feel a little better."
Lucy just nodded, her face looking a bit more refreshed after she had splashed water on it. The dark circles were still there but the puffiness of her face had gone down just a bit, leaving her hair a mess.
Layla did her best to brush through her tangled locks, trying to braid the golden strains behind her. Natsu helped with pulling her t-shirt off and pushing her arms and head through the dress, ensuring it was comfortable on her body. He then was squatting in front of her, helping her put her feet into the sandals he had picked out.
"Beautiful!" Layla said happily, brushing the loose strand of hair behind her ear as she finished her braid. "You are radiant, my sun."
Natsu helped her to her feet, holding on tight as she arched her back. The swell of her abdomen poked through her dress and Natsu had one hand on the small of her back and the other on her belly. He guided her towards the door and stopped when he felt Lucy trembling in his hold, turning to see her face twisted in discomfort.
"It's okay," he murmured, pulling her closer to his side. "Nothing is going to happen."
"I—I know," Lucy's voice shook but she still didn't move. "I just…" she trailed off, her bottom lip sucked in between her teeth.
"It's okay," he repeated, rubbing his hand up and down her back. "We can take it as slow as you want."
"How about I go and find Capricorn and Taurus for you so they can provide some security?" Her mother suggested, a pinched smile on her face.
"O—okay," Lucy nodded, liking the idea of having more people around. "But… not too close, okay?"
Layla nodded, squeezing past the couple as she scurried off to find her security guards. Leaving Natsu alone with Lucy once more, he kept encouraging her to take a step out and her knees wobbled with the idea of having to leave the safety confinement of her bedroom.
"Nobody is going to hurt you again, I promise you." He vowed, his hand squeezing her reassuringly. "As long as I am around," his voice dropped low, showing her his seriousness behind his words. "You and Nasha will be safe."
"I know," she looked over to see her husband staring her down. "I trust you."
"I love you," he swallowed, feeling the thickness of his sorrows squeeze down his esophagus. "Please be okay."
He didn't know he was crying till a tear fell from his eyes and Lucy had reached for him, cupping him by the cheek where he leaned in. The warmth of her hand gave him assurance and he felt his bottom lip wobble, seeing how tears fell from her own eyes again.
"I love you," she whispered back, stroking her thumb against his face. "Thank you for being here for me."
"Always," he took her hand to bring it to his mouth, kissing her palm. "Now, let's go get some air, yeah? I'm right here with you. Every step."
"Okay," she let out a shaky breath, turning to face the open door. She could see the familiar setting of her home, paintings and decoration she had walked past a million times in her life. The familiar smell of daisies and baked goods flowing in the air and her body trembled involuntarily as she took a step towards the door.
She was strangling Natsu's hand at this point but he didn't say anything but watched her footing and her face, slowly edging her out.
By the time she had one foot out the door, her entire body shook and Natsu had to have both his hands around her to ensure she was safe.
Layla had returned with not just Capricorn but Taurus as well, the two older security guards standing ways away to provide security and space. They offered a tight-lipped smile at the heiress as Lucy gave them a weak, wry smile. She was pale and her hair was lined with sweat but she still managed to wave at their two oldest employees.
Normally, she would throw a hissy-fit about anyone treating her as if she was some porcelain doll but she honestly felt like one this time around. Her body would not stop trembling nor would her heart stop racing so she was grateful for the hands on her body, taking her step by step away from her room.
Her eyes kept wandering to look for any sense of danger, trying her best to keep her eyes on her feet and her surroundings but it was nice to know Natsu was right beside her and Capricorn and Taurus were just behind.
When she was down the stairs, she had let out a large sigh out. Her eyes followed the grand staircase up and she swallowed thickly, finding relief in herself that she had made it out of her bedroom and down the stairs.
She took in her familiar surroundings and she could see the maids around giving her sympathetic smiles, some looking sad.
Lucy tried her best to ignore the looks and her knees felt weak with how close she was to the outside. She didn't know if she could make it but with Natsu giving her a reassuring squeeze, she could only try.
"You're doing so good, babe," Natsu murmured in her ear, taking one step at a time. "The sun is going to feel so good."
"And it's such a beautiful day," Layla said, holding onto her other hand. "Mama had them plant some fresh roses and tulips the other day. They should be blooming with color."
"Can—can we take a break?" Lucy asked, suddenly out of breath as they came into the sunroom. She could see the French doors leading to the backyard and her heart began to pound. "Please."
"Of course," Natsu was already taking her to the sofa against the wall. The one that was more for decoration than sitting and he gently had her descend down on the cushion. "You need anything? Water? A snack?"
"Maybe some water," Lucy smiled weakly and Natsu nodded. He leaned in and kissed her on the forehead, promising of his return as he turned and left for the kitchen.
Lucy let out a shaky breath as she looked down at her hand on her lap, watching how her dainty fingers trembled. She watched how another hand placed itself on top of hers and she looked up to see her mother smiling at her.
"Natsu loves and cares for you so much," Layla spoke as she stroked her thumb against the back of her palm. "I know he's going to be such a great husband and father to you and Nasha." She offered a squeeze of reassurance. "I know it's hard right now and you think it's never going to get better but you will. You are strong. You are a Heartfillia, born and raised, and now a Dragneel who may be more ruthless and dangerous than we Heartfillia's are. But just know that we aren't going to give up so please don't give up, either."
Lucy could only whimper, her bottom lip quivering as her vision clouded with tears.
"My sweet fierce sun," Layla cooed, tucking her hair behind her ear. "My baby," her voice cracked, her emotions getting the best of her. "My sweet girl, please be okay. Not just for me and papa but for you. For Nasha. For Natsu. He is trying so hard but I can see it breaks him every time you cry."
"I love him, mama." Lucy cried, tears spilling from her eyes again.
"I know," she pulled her into her arms, cradling her head against her neck. "He loves you, too."
"I—I don't know if I can make it outside." Lucy confessed, her arms tight around her mother. "Please don't be mad."
"I am not mad," Layla said, pulling away to look at her daughter who sniffled and wiped at the hot tears. "I am so proud of you for making it this far, my dear. I could never be mad."
Natsu had returned from his mission and his eyebrows were instantly pinched in worry, his legs carrying him as fast as he could to her side as he crouched down in front of her. He placed the water down and he placed his hands on her arms. "What's wrong, Luce? Why are you crying, again?"
"I don't think—I don't think I can make it outside," she hiccuped, wiping at her tears as she looked down at her husband. "I'm sorry."
"Oh, Luce," he sighed, leaning in to place his head on her lap. "You had me so worried for a minute." He sounded relieved before lifting his head back up, reaching up to wipe at the tear that streamed down her cheek. "Don't apologize to me over stupid stuff like that. What matters is that you made it out of the room and that's a big accomplishment. We can always go as far as you can." He smiled at the way she hiccuped. "Proud of you."
Lucy reached over to wrap her arms around her husband and Natsu gladly took her in his arms, hugging her right back as she cried. He buried his face into the crook of her neck and let her get her trembles out while she cried.
He really does pray she will be okay.
Or else he would have to spend the rest of his life hunting down people like Jose to ensure this world was going to be a safe place for his family.