Sorry for the wait! Here's the last part of A New Life. This story was an experiment I had to try out having one super long oneshot split into two parts. Let me know what you think? As always, thank you so much for reading and reviewing. Being able to see you guys' feedback makes me happy, whether it's good or bad! I appreciate all of you so much.

Also, since I'm so terrible at replying to comments in the next chapter of this story, I'm just going to start messaging you directly. If you don't want me to, just let me know (politely, please!)

I'll welcome any oneshot ideas!

"I stayed home today. Had a headache. Who were you talking to outside?" he asked suspiciously. I cursed the large windows in the front of the house, exposing the whole front yard. He must have seen me stop and talk to Natsu.

"N-No one! He's no one, just my friend-," I swore in my mind. Why did my nerves keep making me babble today? Jude's eyes narrowed.

"Since when do you have a friend next door? Who is he?" Of course, the one time I wanted him to just yell and go back to whatever he was doing, he decides to play 20 questions with me.

"Papa, it's no one, please just-."

"LUCY HEARTFILIA. You will tell me who that boy is and why you think he's your friend, right now."

"His name is Natsu. He sits with me at lunch and talks to me! Him and Erza and Gray and others are the people I hang out with every day!" I said. Defending my friends was the one thing I wasn't afraid to do, no matter who I was talking to. I made my eyes hard, expression stone, and stood tall.

"DAMN IT. Since when are the Dragneels our neighbors? And what the hell were you doing with Igneel's son?!" he roared loudly. I barely flinched.

"He's my best friend. He offered me a ride home, and I accepted. You must not have realized who the neighbors here when we moved from Crocus." Jude's eyes practically glowed red at my sudden bout of confidence.

"We can't live next to a cop, especially not Igneel. We're moving. Pack your things, we're leaving in three days," he muttered. Papa started mumbling to himself, making arrangements in his head.

"...What?" I choked. Blood roared in my ears.

"We are moving," he said again, louder this time.

"I can't leave! I have friends here for the first time since Mama died!" I cried, regretting it an instant later when a strong hand wrapped around my upper arm. Papa tugged me sharply.

"If I say we leave, we leave. Do you have a problem with that?" Adrenaline took over my body, knocking away any remains of my usual fear and timidity.

"Yes, I do! I have friends here. People who genuinely like me! I love all of them with all my heart, and I'm not going to leave just because we live next to Igneel!"

"It's MR. DRAGNEEL to you! Nobody likes you. We're leaving, and that is final!" As if proving he will have the last word and daring me to say anything else, he dug his nails into my pale skin hard enough to draw blood. I cried out, blinking tears out of my eyes. Jude released me and turned his back, walking to his study.

"Yes, Papa," I said miserably. His words ringing with finality and hatred slapped me in the face.

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The next day at school, Natsu was waiting under the same tree as yesterday for me. The second he saw me, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me to the side. I was already running late today, and there was only 15 minutes left until the late bell would ring. I always got here much earlier, but wrapping my arm in a bandage to hide the purple splotches and crescent-moon claw marks took longer than I thought it would. It also didn't help that the temperature was near boiling, and I was trapped inside this stifling blazer. Taking it off would reveal the long tan bandage winding up my arm.
"Hey, Luce? Is your dad nice to you?" Natsu asked first. I jumped in shock.

"U-Um, yes! Of course Papa is nice to me!" I lied, biting the inside of my cheek. "Why do you ask?"

"My pops said I should invite you to ride to school with us this morning. He didn't know you and your dad lived next to us either, so we stopped by your house. Your dad answered the door." Natsu's troubled gaze made me wish I could sink into the grass beneath my feet. I knew where this conversation was going. Natsu may not be the smartest kid book-wise, but his intuition was usually right. "I asked for you, but he said 'that stupid girl left an hour ago. She was wise to be gone before I woke up.' He yelled at me to leave and not come back, and to take my nosy father with me."

I flinched at the words. I knew Papa wasn't happy with me after my outburst from yesterday, but I didn't think it was this terrible. He usually got over it by now, especially after doing what he did to my arms. Tears filled my eyes. This was not a good way to start the day. Natsu's arms wrapped around me gingerly.

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Natsu's PoV

"What's going on?" I whispered in her ear. My heart was screaming for the pain she must be feeling. How could her bastard of a father say that about her? More importantly, how was it possible that Lucy, my Luce, the happiest girl in the whole school it seemed, was the tortured child that's been living beside me for almost a month? Ever since the house had been bought, I'd heard the cries and yelling coming from there. And if her mother was dead, then that meant the two voices belonged to Lucy and her father. All the nights I'd wished I could run next door and comfort the crying girl, and I had no clue that she was the one I spent all day hanging out with and all night thinking about.

"Natsu! Stop making Lu-chan cry!" Levy called, rushing over to her two friends. I let Lucy go and stepped back, but continued to stare at her. When Levy hugged her from the side, I saw the barely-noticeable hiss of pain Lucy gave from the pressure on her arm. My eyes narrowed.

"Good going, Ash Brain!" Gray sneered. Suddenly, the whole group was there. Erza was threatening my life for making her sister cry (even though it wasn't totally my fault), Levy and Cana were trying to cheer Lucy up even though they had no idea why she was upset in the first place, and Gray was unconsciously stripping while trying to start a fight with me. Luce stood in the middle of the chaos, and her sobs grew louder. Everyone stopped in the middle of whatever they were doing and clamored around her, unsure of what to do.

I needed to talk to her alone. I have to figure out why she hasn't told anyone about her father and the pain I know she goes through. A father should never yell at his daughter, for any reason, and especially not in the middle of the night. Although I could never make out the exact words he voiced, I knew it was nothing good. And from the way I heard Lucy cry, I knew it broke her heart.

"I'm moving," Lucy sobbed out. Everyone froze, silent except for the chatter of other passing students. It took five long seconds until all hell broke loose.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU'RE MOVING?" we yelled simultaneously. Lucy cringed.

"Papa said we have to leave. I can't stay. I only have three days left."

"What brought this on?" Cana asked. "He has to have a reason to leave."

"I…," I could see the gears turning in her head. I knew the truth. Every time she'd done this in the past, I thought she was just anxious about what our response was, or thinking of how to word her next sentence. Now I knew it was all because she was trying to think of a lie on the spot. My heart plummeted. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to let you know." I saw her turn and start walking away. I wouldn't let this happen. She wasn't leaving as long as I was here.

I stepped forward and grabbed her wrist. I had to be sure. I had to confirm my suspicions. I prayed to whatever God there was that I was wrong.

"Luce." I said. She turned her wide eyes to me. I saw the fear and pain. The sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach kept my usual joking manner away. "You look like you're overheating. Take your blazer off." I'd never seen her without her uniform jacket or long sleeves.

"I'm fine!" she insisted. She glared into my eyes.

"Lucy, you're very red. Please take your jacket off! We have a few minutes for class, just long enough for you to cool off!" Levy said.

"...Okay," she said. She couldn't resist without causing a scene. I released her so she could carefully slip off the navy blue article of clothing. The short sleeved shirt was left underneath. Her upper left arm was wrapped in a long bandage near the color of her skin. I couldn't look away from it.

"What happened to your arm?" Gray asked. I could feel the others' shock.

"No worries, minna! I just fell, nothing serious! I landed on a tack, so I wrapped it up!"

"Half of your arm because of one tack?" Erza questioned. Lucy nodded, biting her lip. Her lie was weak, and she knew it. We all knew it.

"Lucy, why are you really moving?" Cana asked suspiciously.

"I know," I said under my breath. I was starting to shake with anger. That bastard. He hurt her. He fucking hurt his daughter. He fucking hurt LUCY. And Lucy was too fucking afraid of him to tell anyone.

"Natsu…," Lucy begged. I couldn't handled the tight feeling in my chest. I had to get out of here, fast, before I blew up like a grenade.

"I KNOW WHY, DAMN IT!" I roared, charging away. I ran all the way to my locker in the main building without being followed. A million and one thoughts were flying through my mind, but one task stood out among the others. I felt the stares on my back as my fingers flew over the lock, and then over the keypad of my phone. I dialed my dad's number. When he didn't answer, I called the police station and hoped he was there.

"Magnolia Town Police, how may I help you?" the bored receptionist asked.

"Max, is my dad there? It's important, and he isn't answering his phone," I sped through my explanation.

"Hey Natsu. Yeah, he's here. I'll go get him," he said. I tapped my fingers impatiently, listening the silence on the other end as Max walked to get the requested man.

"Natsu? Why are you calling me from school, and what's so important that it couldn't wait until tonight?" Igneel asked wearily. I didn't have time to feel bad about interrupting whatever he was doing.

"Lucy's moving."

Igneel was quiet for a moment, probably waiting for me to add something else. "And? I understand she's your friend, but people move all the ti-."

"Dad, you don't understand. Her dad knows we live next door now, and he's making her leave!"

"Son, you know he has a big company. Maybe her father wants to expand-."

"DAD! I KNOW you hear the crying in the middle of the night, because I sure as hell do! I told you what he said this morning! She took off her jacket earlier and showed her arms for the first time since I've known her!"

"Natsu, what you're implying is very serious. You can't throw accusations around like that."

"She has bandages. Her arm is wrapped up like a mummy."

"...She might have just gotten a cut."

"That's bullshit and you know it! You know what her dad is doing to her; why do you keep denying it! Arrest the bastard already!"

"Stop swearing, damn it! Grandine hears that and all you'll be tasting for a month is soap." He waited a second to let that sink in before continuing. "I don't know anything. I am a police officer without any proof of abuse." I could hear the reluctance he was trying to hide in his voice.

"This is so STUPID. She's in pain, dad. He's gonna beat her until she's dead! If we don't help her now, they'll move, and he'll just keep doing it!"

"Natsu. Keep your voice down, and try to relax. I'll try to stop them from moving, but that's the best I can do until I get real proof. If what you say is happening really is, it sounds like Lucy needs you now more than ever. Invite her to dinner tonight, and I'll see if I can get anything out of her." I hung up with a groan of frustration. The halls had cleared during my conversation. The bell was ringing in one minute. Lucy would already be in class with the others by now.

I rushed down the halls, stepping into the classroom just before the bell rang. Gildarts was sitting with his feet on his desk, pretending to read a magazine, but staring at Lucy worriedly over the top.

"Gildarts?" I asked quietly. He looked at me with a start.

"What is it?"

"I swear I'll never ask for a free period again if you let us have one right now." My teacher smiled slightly.

"Your friends beat me to it. Erza, Gray, Cana, and Levy already begged and threatened. Just go figure out what's wrong with Lucy, and be ready for class tomorrow."

I walked over to my group of friends, all circled around my favorite blonde. The rest of the students in the class chatted quietly and worked on homework, unaware of the true reason behind the random free period. I saw most of them glance over at Lucy in worry, but they knew better than to try to break into this protective barrier of people. Gray looked back and saw me coming, moving to the side to let me through. He was smart enough to realize this wasn't the best time to pick a fight.

"Luce?" I asked when I was close enough. She sat on a chair with guilt written across her face and tear tracks down her cheeks. My heart broke for her.

"I already told everyone, so it's okay," she said quietly. I panicked for a second. "I told everyone about that guy that bullied me the other day. He grabbed my arm hard enough to bruise and pulled out a knife. I didn't want to tell you guys to worry you, but you already knew because you saved me from him. I made you promise not to tell though."

I had to admit, it was a great lie. And with the state Lucy was in, she pulled it off expertly. Nobody could tell she was lying through her teeth. I saw the pleading in her eyes.

"My dad invited you to dinner tonight," I said, neither confirming nor denying her story.

"Is what she said true, Natsu?" Erza asked authoritatively. I glanced at Lucy one more, saw the silent begging coming from her, and nodded.

"Yeah."

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Lucy's PoV

"Hello, Mrs. Dragneel," I mumbled when the white door in front of me opened, bowing my head respectfully at the older lady. The tall blue haired woman smiled happily down at me.

Luckily, Papa was still at work when I came home to quickly change. My outfit was one of the countless fancy dresses Papa had hired someone to buy for me for the business parties and dinners he held. This specific one was pink and above my knees, gathered around the waist. I picked some roses from the flower garden behind my house and tied a ribbon around them, which I now presented.

I was grateful to Natsu for accepting and playing along with my lie. He only got chewed out a little from Erza for keeping it a secret, but nothing too terrible. My friends spoke normally and cheerfully after they plotted ways to track down the (imaginary) bully and kill him. For this reason, I couldn't deny the dinner invitation. I hoped that Natsu hadn't told his father about me.

"Oh, these are beautiful! Please, call me Grandine. You must be Lucy?" she asked, opening the door further and gesturing for me to come in. I stepped into the hall hesitantly. The inside of the house was much like my own home. A large white foyer, a kitchen to the right, a sitting room to the left, with a marble staircase leading to where the bedrooms supposedly were. A hallway stretched past the stairs with doors probably leading to another room, a closet, a study, and a bathroom.

"Hey Luce!" Natsu called, charging into the foyer. He skidded to a stop in front of me and grabbed my hand, resulting in an inflammation of my cheeks. Grandine took the flowers and walked off to the kitchen to fill a vase of water for them.

"Dad, Lucy's here!" Natsu yelled through the house. His dad stepped out of the office just past the kitchen, smiling warmly. I saw the calculating look in his eyes as he looked me over nonchalantly, and silently sighed. So much for this being a quiet night.

"Hi, Lucy. How are you?" he asked.

"I'm okay, how are you Mr. Dragneel?" I asked, bobbing my head in greeting.

"How many times do I have to tell you, please just call me Igneel!" he laughed, scratching the back of his head.

"It's a Lucy thing. She does that with all the teachers too," Natsu answered for me. I looked down and noticed he was still holding my hand, sending my heartbeat fluttering again. From the grin Igneel shot my way, I knew he noticed our hands too.

"Natsu, is your girlfriend here?" a high voice asked. A girl with long blue hair pulled into pigtails skipped down the stairs. She was in a cute green dress with a yellow and blue upside down 'V' shape at the top and a gold armband. An older kid, around Natsu's and my age, followed her downstairs, along with a white cat.

"I'm not his girlfriend!" "She's not my girlfriend!" Natsu and I said at the same time, each blushing madly. Natsu dropped my hand quickly. The young girl snickered at us.

"I'm Wendy," she introduced.

"I'm Jellal," the boy behind her said, nodding at me. He had on puffy blue pants and a white shirt. The navy cloak he was wearing was a few shades lighter than his blue hair. The red tattoo on the right half of his face stood out on his pale skin.

"He's in the grade above us at school. He watches Wendy for us sometimes, and helps her with homework," Natsu explained.

"I'm Lucy. It's very nice to meet both of you!" I said, bowing quickly. When I stood back up, everyone was staring at me strangely. Damn it. A girl bowing respectfully to other children? It's like the first day of class all over again! It was a force of habit by now. Papa had me trained well.

"It's time to eat!" Mrs. Dragneel called from the kitchen, knocking us out of the slightly awkward silence.

"Food!" Igneel and Natsu yelled at the same time with just as much enthusiasm, running into the dining room. Wendy and I laughed, and Jellal rolled his eyes.

"Jellal, you're welcome to stay for dinner too!" Grandine said, peeking her head around the corner of the kitchen wall.

"No thanks, Grandine. There's a student board meeting tonight, and I have to go," Jellal politely declined. He ruffled the top of Wendy's hair, earning an indignant squeak from the younger girl, and finished walking down the stairs. When he was beside me, he dropped a hand on my shoulder. "I don't think I said this earlier, but welcome to Fairy Tail Academy. It's nice to have a new face around." He continued on his way, closing the door almost silently behind him. I stood there confusedly.

"It's okay. Sometimes, his voice is so serious that you can't tell he was trying to compliment you," Wendy said. She walked over and took my hand, leading me to follow her family. "He's really nice though. He's great at helping if you ever need anything."

"Is that so…," I murmured to myself thoughtfully. Wendy pulled me through the kitchen and into the attached dining room where Natsu and Igneel were sneaking bites of food from the plates in the middle of the table when Grandine wasn't looking. It was like they'd turned it into a game. Grandine would turn around from where she was grabbing plates and silverware out of the cupboard, smacking their hands with a spoon. As soon as she turned around again though, they were back at it like 5 year olds.

"Luce, come sit beside me!" Natsu called when he spotted me. Wendy giggled and let go of my hand. There was one chair on each side of the rectangular table, but he pulled up another one from the corner of the room. He waved me over like an over-excited toddler.

"Can I help with anything Mrs. Dragneel?" I asked first. She laughed, shaking her head.

"Grandine, dear. Please just call me Grandine. And no, thank you, just sit down and try to tame that child you love." My face heated up until it was the same shade as Igneel's hair. Igneel and Wendy laughed. Luckily, Natsu had gone back to trying to sneak food from the platters and hadn't heard the comment.

"I don't-," I started.

"Oh hush. Who else would put up with that idiot?" Instead of replying to her, I hid my sizzling face underneath my bangs and sat beside Natsu. He gave me his usual toothy grin as Wendy took her seat across from us. Igneel got up and pulled his chair out for his wife before resuming his spot at the head of the table.

"So Lucy, I heard you lived in Crocus before. What made you move out here?" Grandine asked as we piled food onto our plates. I had braced myself for the personal questions I knew would come, resolving to answer as truthfully as I could. After all, I was leaving in a few days. Nothing I said now would be able to follow me to wherever I moved next. Why not be a little more open than usual?

"I had some troubles. Papa's company was really starting to grow, and it seemed I was getting in the way of some things," I said. It wasn't a total lie. I only left out the part about running away. Not much use in explaining that whole thing to them.

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that! I guess it's a good thing you moved though. Since you two met, Natsu hasn't been able to stop talking about you!" Grandine said. I choked a little on my food, and I saw Natsu's face getting darker from the corner of my eye.

"How's Jude been doing? I haven't heard from him in years," Igneel asked bluntly. I refused to let myself stutter. I pulled my hands into my lap and adjusted my sleeves quickly before answering.

"Papa is well. His company is expanding, so we're moving in three days," I said in a monotone. Natsu clenched his hand around his fork.

"About that, actually, I've been meaning to walk over. After we drove you home yesterday, I decided to look into the Heartfilia Konzern a little more. It seems there are some errors in the company affairs. I'm afraid Jude won't be too happy, but I don't think you can leave until this all gets sorted out." My eyes widened. This was not going to end well. If Papa was angry, what was he going to do to me? Maybe I could avoid him long enough for him to cool down…

What am I thinking? Jude Heartfilia doesn't take no for an answer. If somebody tells him he can't move, whether it be a cop or not, he'll find a way past it.

"Lucy, how's your mother? We've talked about your father, but nothing about her," Grandine obliviously asked, knocking me out of my thoughts. I appreciated her trying to change the topic, but I'm not sure this was much better than talking about Jude. I saw Natsu and Igneel catch their breath and glance at me. Wendy looked just as curious as her mother.

"She died a few years ago," I explained. I could almost feel the light leaving my eyes. I couldn't help but get sucked back into the past when I thought of her. Wendy pushed out of her chair and circled around the table to grasp my hand.

"It's okay, Lucy-nii. We'll be your family!" she said cheerfully. Her eyes squinted shut with the magnitude of her smile. My eyes watered as I smiled.

"We really will be a family when you guys get married, anyway," Igneel remarked quietly, diffusing the sadness in the room. Wendy skipped back to her seat, laughing as Natsu and I fervently denied being a couple for the dozenth time tonight.

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"Lucy." I looked over at Natsu's serious tone. He was sitting up on his bed, leaning against the headboard, staring at me intently. I shied away from the fire I saw burning in his eyes. I knew what was coming before the next words left his mouth.

We finished dinner with lighter conversations about our how our days were and friends. Grandine all but shoved me out of the kitchen when I offered to help clean up. Instead, Wendy helped her mother with dishes while Igneel fell onto the couch in the living room to watch TV. Natsu dragged me up the stairs so he could show me his room, leaving behind the roaring laughter of his father as he teased our relationship yet again.

His room was exactly as I'd pictured it would be. The bed was a mess of blankets thrown in a heap with a blue cat snuggled on top. Happy immediately liked me as soon as I started petting him. The floor was covered in clothes and games and random stuff, some of which I had no idea what its purpose could be. His desk was off to one side, pushed up against the dark red wall.

There were pictures hanging all over the room. I took my time walking around to see them all as Natsu played with his cat. Each picture was hung with care. They were all with his friends. I blushed when I noticed that I was in many of them. The others were of him growing up with Erza and Gray, of Igneel and Grandine getting married, and other family photos.

"Yes?" I asked anyway. I put down the dragon figurine I'd been admiring.

"Is your dad hitting you?" he asked plainly. I flinched a little at the accusation. I knew that he knew- or suspected at least- Papa of abuse, but I didn't think he'd say it so openly! I crossed my fingers and hoped again that he hadn't told his father about this.

"What are you talking about, Natsu?" I asked, hoping to play it off as nothing. I turned my back to him again, fiddling with the loose corner of the poster on his wall.

"Lucy." I felt a hand on my shoulder. I slowly turned to see him standing a foot away from me. "You don't have to live like that. Just tell me the truth. I can protect you."

Tears were starting to fill my eyes. "Please stop," I whispered.

"Tell me what's happening."

"Don't you think I would if I could?" I snapped. This wasn't our first argument. Arguing came often with Natsu. But, this was the first argument that was actually about something serious. I'd never seen him like this before. My tone made Natsu's anger flare. My heart sped up.

"Of course you can! Just say the words! Just four little words!" he said, voice rising slightly.

"I can't! Don't you see that? I can't do anything but grin and bear it!" I cried. I refused to let myself cry.

"Just let me protect you!" he pleaded. I took another step back, bumping against his wall. I saw the struggle in his eyes. I knew him well enough to know that his anger was covering his fear. He was afraid for me. He was afraid that something terrible was going to happen every time I went home.

"Why?" I asked in a small voice. "I don't want anything to change! Let me enjoy what I have left! I have friends, like Erza and Gray and Cana and Levy! I have you! Can't that be enough? Can't it be enough that I'm actually happy for the first time in years?"

"NO! It CAN'T be enough when you're about to move away! Not when every single night I know that you go home and get hurt! I hear you cry at night, did you know that? Why can't you just let me protect you?"

"Natsu, I'm nakama. I understand if you feel like you have to save me, but I can take care of myself. Please, just let me-."

"Are you really that dense? You AREN'T NAKAMA TO ME! You're so, so much more, damn it!" Out of habit of being frustrated, Natsu reached up to scratch the back of his neck. I had no control over my body's instinctive reaction. I collapsed onto the floor, crossing my arms over my chest. I knew what he was doing. He always scratched his neck when he was trying to say something he really meant. I knew it, but it didn't stop me from seeing my father raising his hand to me. At the same time, Natsu's bedroom door slammed open to reveal Igneel and Wendy standing in the doorway. I looked up slowly. Igneel seemed to understand quickly, but Wendy was missing a part of the puzzle. Natsu stood in the same position, his fingers frozen on his skin, dumbfounded. His mouth dropped in horror.

"Lucy," Natsu choked. My eyes widened at what I'd done. I'd just given them the perfect evidence. I undid everything I tried so hard to hide. Before I could move, Natsu was kneeling down, wrapping his arms around my body, engulfing me in his warmth. I couldn't break out of his hold, even if I wanted to.

"Wendy, go get your mother and find a movie to watch. We'll join you soon," Igneel murmured. He stopped into the room and sat on the floor beside us. Natsu rocked me back and forth. Grandine rushed in a moment later.

"Somebody better start explaining," she said not unkindly, looking down at us. I couldn't read the expression on her face.

"Can you heal Lucy?" Natsu asked tearfully. He looked at me questioningly. I nodded. There was no point in hiding it anymore. I've never seen Natsu so gentle. He carefully let me go, pulling up my sleeve, and gingerly unwrapped the winding bandage on my arm. I saw Grandine cover her mouth in shock.

"Igneel, is this what had you so worried earlier?" she asked, moving closer to examine my arm lightly. I winced when she accidentally squeezed something, but Natsu's comforting heat helped me relax. I leaned against him as Grandine disappeared momentarily to get a first aid kit.

"Natsu, you and Grandine go outside. I'm going to talk to Lucy for a minute, and then we can all watch a movie with Wendy," Igneel said after my arm had been treated by the ex-doctor. Grandine had to practically drag Natsu away from my side. When the door closed behind them, there was a loud thud. Igneel was crouched on the ground beside where I was still kneeling on the carpet.

"You can't let this go on, Lucy," Igneel murmured. My head was a flurry of emotions. Had Natsu meant what he said, saying I was more than just nakama to him? An even bigger thought overshadowed that one. I'd just given away my secret. I just ruined everything. Nothing will ever be okay again. What was going to happen to me now?

"I have to. What else can I do? If he gets in trouble, I'll be shipped off to some orphanage."

"I won't let that happen. Natsu won't either, for that matter. You'll stay with us."

I was flabbergasted. "Mr...Igneel, I can't let you do that for me. There's no way that would ever work!" I exclaimed. What he was suggesting was so beautifully tempting, it scared me to think about. To be able to stay in Magnolia, with all of my friends, with Natsu? It was too good to possibly be true!

"We'll just have to kidnap you then!" Igneel's wink caused my weak giggle.

"I'll never be able to repay you for this. But, how will you pull it off? The legal side of all of this…," I trailed off.

"Don't you worry about it. I've got a good friend that'll be able to help."

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The small stone statue stood in the shade of the trees. Its face was upturned, staring up at the sky, just like the woman it was made to look like always did. Just Heartfilia's name was written on the polished rock, gracefully watched over by his one true love forever. His daughter stood somberly with a bundle of flowers in her arms.

"Papa…," she murmured. Natsu had left her alone for a few minutes to say her final goodbyes.

Even after everything that happened, Lucy couldn't hate her father. He treated her terribly, he hurt her so many times, but it was only because her mother dying. If Layla had still been alive, none of it would have happened. He lost to the darkness that took over his soul from losing his beloved wife.

After his sentence to prison, the blonde felt like the princess she'd spent her life being called. She had a home with the Dragneels, friends that were more like family, and someone that she cared more about than she wanted to admit. Jude's passing 3 years later was the first hard reminder she'd had of her old life.

In the end, Jude Heartfilia will be just another broken heart that the world will forget. But Lucy won't. When she thinks of her father, she'll remember the good times, the times they shared before Layla died.

"Luce? Are you okay?" Natsu asked, wrapping an arm around his girlfriend of 2 years.

"Yes."

"Are you ready to go home, or do you want to stay longer?"

"…Let's leave."

Natsu led her away from her parents' graves and towards the car waiting for them. Wendy, Igneel, Grandine, and even Happy and Charle sat inside. They were all just as serious as Natsu. Everyone wanted to come, though only Igneel got out of the car and visited the grave. None of them wanted Lucy to feel like she was alone anymore.

'Mama, Papa, I'll miss you. But I hope you know, wherever you are, that I love you both. I've survived through the storm, lived through something I couldn't save myself from. I dreamed every night that it would stop, and it finally did. Thanks to Natsu, I've finally found a place where I'm loved."