Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail

"Who was it?!" They all heard Natsu shouting, he raced to the front of the crowd "Was it Igneel?" Lucy stepped back to look at him frowning sadly, she knew the dragon slayer wanted any information on his father and she hoped for his sake that her… father, would give it to him.

The spirit king nodded "actually, yes it was." He told the pink haired boy in front of him.

Natsu stepped back some in shock, all the dragon slayers tensed for a moment before the silence was broken by the pink haired boy. "Where is he? Have you heard from him recently?" Natsu was suddenly there in front of the father daughter pair, desperation and longing ringing in his voice.

Lucy stepped away as far as she could but her father's arm stopped her from going any further, he was looking down at her and smiled.

The spirit king turned to the dragon slayer "I'm sorry old friend, but I haven't spoken to Igneel in almost four thousand years." He told him.

Natsu looked down sadly, "so you don't know where he is?" He asked sullenly, even though he already knew the answer the spirit king was silent and it was enough, with that Natsu sulked away. Hurt was so evident on his face that it broke her heart.

Lucy let out a soft cry and reached out for him, she didn't know what to do or say but she had to try, again her father stopped her. "I have very little time left Lucy, I must attend to the spirit world and I need to explain more to you."

"Your brother will be coming to teach you about the hammer you wield, he can only come for short periods of time, maybe once a month or so, so take everything he teaches you to heart. Thor is excited to meet you" her father told her with a crinkle in his eyes, "he looks forward to meeting his little sister at last."

Lucy smiled affectionately, "I always wanted a sibling" she giggled "this will be weird though, since he is a few thousand years old and all." She teased, giving her father her best smile.

The spirit kings face softened drastically and he pulled Lucy in for a tight hug, "I myself can only visit once in a great while, but rest assured I will make sure to be a good father and make up for all this lost time." He rested a hand on her shoulder and he began to fade, Lucy could feel tears springing to her eyes and she didn't care when they fell freely.

"Do you have to go now?" she whispered, she was getting really used to the idea of having him around, a piece of her family… even if it had only been brief and she had only just discovered this all of fifteen minutes ago.

She desperately clutched onto him and she felt a pair of strong arms around her waist gently tugging her back, The spirit king looked beyond her shoulder, gazing curiously at Laxus, who held his daughter so tenderly, he broke his gaze however to smile down at her one more time, and brush his hand along her cheek before he finally vanished.

Lucy slumped into whoever was holding her and she was surprised when she smelled the faintest trace of spice, she turned to see Laxus gazing down gently at her and her breath caught before a sob wracked her throat and she clung to him greedily.

Laxus was most certainly going to drink in this moment, he pulled her further into his grasp and then picked her up bridal style, and nodding to Erza he carried her out of the room with only the S-class following to give her some semblance of privacy.

"That was something else" Wakaba commented.

"Indeed" agreed the gravelly voice of the Master, he was staring up at the retreating girl, at least he didn't have to worry too much about her possibly losing control of her powers if she was going to be taught how to use them properly once and for all.

He sighed and stared down at the beer in his hands, this whole situation with the crown had nagged at him, Erza and Laxus for a long time but now that they knew the truth, they needed to double their efforts into finding the missing pieces, whoever else wanted the thing didn't seem to bode well for everyone.

On a lighter note, at least his grandson was settling down, he took a sip and then smiled one big goofy grin chuckling to himself; grandbabies.

He stared at Mira who seemed to have the same thoughts running through her mind, ever since they all watched Laxus affectionately carry the young girl off she had been standing there swooning and muttering incoherently about blonde haired, mutter mutter, blue/brown mutter mutter, babies.

He chuckled and took another thoughtful sip as he watched his children go back to their daily routines if not for the constant flow of gossip going on around the hall.

Meanwhile Lucy had calmed down by the time they reached the infirmary and when Laxus set her down she felt a little empty as the warmth radiating off of him left her, she whimpered in protest but didn't say anything.

They were all watching her silently, she finally relented under their gazes with a sigh "I'm okay guys" she told them, not looking at them.

"Bullshit" Laxus rough voice cut through her and she tore her gaze from staring off up to him, with a frown etched onto her face.

"I'm really fine," she protested, "I just have a lot to think about, is all." She went back to staring at nothing.

Laxus was about to interject again when not only Erza put her hand on his shoulder and shook her head silently, but Loke came in the room.

"Can I talk to Lucy alone?" he asked quietly, Lucy looked up confused, the others nodded but Laxus body twitched in anger, what the hell did he want now? He thought in annoyance, ripping the head off that punk was starting to sound more and more pleasing at this point.

"Sure Loke" Lucy nodded, she looked around the room expectantly and her eyes settled on him for a moment, finally and begrudgingly Laxus left with the rest of the group but not before giving Loke the hardest glare he could muster which the spirit returned tenfold.

As soon as the door closed Bickslow led Erza and Gajeel off and Laxus faltered behind them, staying to eavesdrop, he was going to know what that playboy was saying.

"What's up Loke?" He heard Lucy asked her spirit.

"Lucy…" Loke began, not knowing what to say at first, he was fiddling with his glasses nervously and Lucy frowned standing up, she went up to him and placed a hand against his cheek.

"Are you okay?" She asked him softly, worriedly.

He leaned into her touch and it took her by surprise, "screw it" he muttered "you know the spirit king offered for you to stay in the spirit world" he told her grasping her shoulder, outside Laxus gut twisted and it took everything in him not to burst into the room.

"Are you going to consider it?" Laxus heart leaped in his chest when he heard the question. There was along drawn out moment of silence as he waited with bated breath for Lucy's answer.

"No." She said, smiling sadly at her beloved spirit, she felt so bad for him when his hands dropped from her shoulders "I love my life here, I'd miss my friends… no… my family too much" her face broke out in a grin "I'd especially miss Erza, Laxus, Gajeel and Bickslow" she laughed.

Loke crossed his arms over his chest "you'd miss that idiot?" He muttered.

"Huh? Who are you talking about?" She asked innocently "none of them are idiots Loke" she then scolded.

The lion sighed, "I wasn't talking about anybody Princess" he gripped her hand in his. "Just know if you ever change your mind, just say the word to me and I will immediately make the arrangements" he told her earnestly, looking into her eyes before she became uncomfortable and looked away.

"I won't ever want to go to Valhalla or the celestial spirit world Loke" she pulled her hand from his but pat him softly on the arm in a soothing gesture, "but if I ever change my mind, you'll be the first to know!" she joked.

Laxus grit his teeth so hard he was sure they were going to crack under the pressure, he had a bone to pick with that pesky lion spirit of hers now, although he was extremely relieved that not only did Lucy not want to leave them… him… she had even considered him to be close to her… even if it was only as a friend.

He was tired of playing games however, if he didn't let Lucy know how he felt… and soon, he was going to end up losing her to that idiot playboy – or anybody else for that matter - and that kind of fear tore into his heart leaving him almost breathless, that wasn't going to happen, he growled low, over his dead body.

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Loke eventually left, and her team had come back to keep her company since she was supposed to stay in the infirmary tonight; but soon Wendy had kicked them out, now she was alone with her own thoughts.

If I don't do something my…. Jude will send another guild to attack, or at least he'll send somebody, she thought. I don't need my guild to be attacked because of him. She had to catch herself from saying father, the whole situation was still weird to her, but she was accepting it pretty well considering.

She got up slowly and turned so her bare feet could touch the cool floor. Lucy stood and made her way to the bathroom to dress before she slipped out of the infirmary, she walked past the Master's office to see the poor old guy fast asleep, drool running down his mouth and she had to suppress a giggle.

Going back to the infirmary for a second she returned with a blanket and gently laid it over his sleeping form.

She had her shoes in hand and sat on the edge of the stairs putting them on slowly, her body shaking with anticipation for what she was thinking of doing. She was determined, she would go confront her former father and demand he cease any and all attacks on Fairy Tail once and for all.

Soon the blonde slipped out of the guild doors as silently as she had the infirmary ones and vanished into the night.

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Laxus was up and early, ready to go and see if his blondie was okay. When he went in the guild hall was silent save for a few early bird stragglers, so it wasn't long before he was through he infirmary doors and looking at a whispering Master and Erza, a worried looking Wendy and no sign of Lucy.

"Oi! Where's Blondie?" He barked out, causing Wendy to jump, Erza and his grandfather faced him with concerned faces.

"We have no idea Laxus, but we can deduce it was sometime last night, since the Master was asleep whens he left." She gave his grandfather an almost stern look, and the old man had the decency to look sheepish.

Laxus snorted "fall asleep while doing paperwork again gramps?' His eyebrow twitched, when his grandfather blushed and his grin got bigger.

He made another snort of disgust before turning back to Erza "did you search her apartment?" He asked, to which her head nodded her reply.

"Yes, Gajeel informed us over the communications lacrima that she wasn't there, he's on his way back now, saying she left a note."

She left a note? She left … his mind came to that conclusion but the next thought struck a chord with him, did she change her mind after her conversation with Loke? He almost choked but held his stoic expression; the look in his eyes didn't go unnoticed by Erza and the master however.

It was painstaking waiting for Gajeel to finally arrive with damn note and Laxus paced the infirmary his temper rising with every second that ticked by, when the iron dragon slayer finally did walk through his grandfather's office doors, (the three had since moved there while Wendy went back to the main hall) the last straw on his temper damn near broke "took you long enough!" He snapped.

"Shut your trap hole, Laxus I'm here and Bunny girl ain't in danger" he handed the note to the Master who read over it carefully, it was a simple note.

I've gone to take care of my father once and for all,

I'll be back I promise!

Love you all.

Lucy.

"Her hammer was left at her apartment too" Gajeel notified them all.

"You could have told us that over the communications lacrima!" Laxus bellowed.

"I didn't because I wanted to know what the plan of action was going to be!" Gajeel bit back, they both glared at each other.

"We do nothing." Makarov cut in before it got too heated between the two.

"What?" Laxus sneered "what do you mean we're not going after her?" He demanded.

His grandfather looked way too serene for his liking and his skin crackled with lightning "Lucy's a big girl" Makarov spoke "if she says she'll be back, then she will, and clearly she wanted to do this affair alone or she would have asked you all to come along." He replied in that annoying wise voice of his, that grated on Laxus nerves all too often.

"And what if something happens?" The sneer in the lightning dragon slayers voice hadn't lessened any.

"If she isn't back in two days, you all can go look for her." His grandfather said calmly, before Laxus could argue Bickslow walked into the office.

"Wendy says Cosplayers gone missing?" He asked with a yawn, the guy was not a morning person, but Erza was slowly changing that.

"I'm glad to see you finally crawled out of your bed Bickslow" she said sternly, arms crossed over her chest in a disapproving manner, Bickslow winced.

"Yeah… I was up late last night" he shrugged, bar hopping was a hobby of his.

Gajeel made a sound in the back of his throat and left, when Bickslow got the details he wasn't far behind him and Erza seeing there was nothing left to do walked out leaving grandfather and grandson alone with each other.

Laxus gave him a hard look "I'm going after her." He stated, he wasn't going to argue and his grandfather wouldn't interfere.

Makarov sighed and rubbed the back of his head "I thought as much," he said knowingly in that gravelly voice of his, he looked up at his grandson then and nodded "alright go, just be aware she might be upset with you for following her." He warned him, crossing his arms over his chest.

Laxus didn't waste any time, he turned heel and stalked out of the office without a backward glance he was soon leaving Fairy Tail and headed to the Heartfilia estate.

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Lucy had made it to the mansion she grew up in she was staring up at it from the gate, by the time she worked up the courage for what she was going to say to Jude it was already midafternoon.

Everyone's bound to have found my note by now, she thought absent mindedly as she walked up to the large doors quietly. Servants suddenly swarmed out and greeted her, it wasn't long before she was ushered inside, fawned over, dressed lavishly and escorted to Jude's library where he was bent over his work.

"Lucy" he said without looking up.

"Jude" she replied flatly, he looked up at her then before going back down to his paperwork, scribbling a few more notes in.

"You should learn to respect your father more, daughter" he said harshly.

Lucy gazed at him unflinchingly, and the next words out of her mouth stunned him so badly he dropped his pen. "You know damn well I'm not your daughter" she replied bluntly.

He looked up at her then, eyes as big as the moon, his mouth gaping open. Then standing up angrily he almost spat out his next words "so you're disowning me?' He demanded in a strange voice, but Lucy's face remained as stoic as Virgo's.

"That's not what I meant and you know it." She said coldly.

"How did you find out?" He whispered angrily, she glanced at his shaking fists and then back up to his bulging eyes.

"I'd wondered why you hated me so much after mom died" she observed "I wonder also if you only put up with me for her sake." She continued "and after her death you couldn't bear to look at me, knowing I wasn't your daughter." Her face softened then "it must have been hard for you. "The coldness in her voice relented, she suddenly felt very sorry for him. He loved her mother and even though she knew her mother loved him, she loved her spirit king even more; it must have wounded the man badly.

Jude tightened his fists but suddenly turned away, his cold calculating demeanor back in place as he turned his back to her and folded his hands behind him.

"It doesn't matter, you're still a Heartfilia, and you must perform your duties to your family." He lectured, "You know very well why I sent for you."

"I know, and it's never going to happen." She told him.

"And why is that?" he asked spinning around to face her.

"Because if you do, I'll tell all your clients I'm not really your daughter" she pointed out, "it won't affect me really, seeing as I don't care about what people think of me, and I think it would be crueler for people to find out your daughter is a bastard instead of just a runaway."

She had him there, his jaw was practically hitting the ground at her brashness, she had gotten bolder since she had run off and she knew it.

"you wouldn't dare!" he spluttered out finally, to which Lucy shrugged, feigning a bored look on her face, she pretended to examine her fingernails, this behavior of hers was taught to her long ago and came in handy from time to time.

This was one of those times. "You know what I'm saying is the truth, Jude" she drew out his name for added effect, "I really don't care about my reputation, so I really wouldn't risk it if I were you."

She tore at her dress and threw the garment on the floors suddenly, before turning away with a haughty flair "test me, go after me and especially Fairy Tail again, and I'll make sure you regret it." She promised before exiting the room, the silence stunning the atmosphere.

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Laxus had a score to settle anyway, he thought over that as he stalked up the pavement to the Heartfilia manor, he was intent on kicking down the doors and dragging Lucy out of there if he need before taking care of her father.

He stopped when he saw her in the setting sun, staring at what looked like a lavish grave, "Lucy?" He called out; she turned to face him with a surprised look on her face, before it broke out in a knowing grin.

"I was wondering if you guys would follow me" she chuckled then frowned in confusion, "where are the others?" She asked him as he came up to stand before her, hands in his pockets as he observed her silently for a minute.

"Gramps forbade them to go after you, due to the note you left behind" he finally broke the silence.

Lucy's brow lifted "and you? Why did you come?" She asked him, it earned her a mischievous grin.

"I wasn't gonna listen to him!" Laxus let out a booming laugh, Lucy shook her head at him, she giggled and then went up to the blonde man hugging him around the waist, he looked surprised but wrapped his own arms around her, it was strangely comforting being in his arms, and he felt like he was on top of the world at that moment himself, birds were twittering and insects chirping, the wind rustled the leaves all around them but it was peaceful, and that specific kind of quiet that was relaxing, so they stayed there for a moment.

She broke away first giving him her killer smile "c'mon, I took care of things here, we should get going" she said brightly.

Laxus shook his head at her though, "hold on, I've got a score to settle." With that he turned and went up to the mansion.

Lucy could have stopped him… maybe, but he wasn't her father anymore, he was just a man who attacked her guild... Laxus guild, she wasn't going to stop him from what she guessed was avenging their nakama.

Laxus had another idea in mind though when he strode up to the doors to the gorgeous mansion, busting them open with his foot Fairy Tail style, he shooed away what maids and servants actually dared come across his path and try to kick him out, and he cockily made his way to Lucy's (previous) father's study.

He had been able to tell with the lingering scent she left which direction it was in, sure it went in other directions, but this one; on this path was the strongest. So when he burst through study doors he wasn't surprised to see Jude Heartfilia stand up and shout at him to get out.

"I don't know what the meaning of this is! But you need to leave!" The pompous man pointed a finger toward the exit forcefully, his face going red in anger.

Laxus face turned dark and he lightning teleported over to him; in a split second he had Jude up by the collar and was face to face with him. He could vaguely hear a couple of the servants angrily shouting at him in the distance but he ignored them, instead he concentrated on the person in front of him who was clawing at him arm and going blue from gasping for breath.

Laxus shifted his hold so Jude could breathe but he couldn't escape, he was reminded who had the real power here.

"Listen here, you bastard" he shook him for good measure. "I don't think I have to tell you twice to leave Lucy alone. If you come within a city block of her and I find out I'll shock you, till your nothin' but a blackened crisp, no one will be able to recognize you when I'm done with you!" He snarled.

Jude choked and sputtered out his next words. "What is she to you?" He demanded.

"My mate, see I'm dragon slayer and we don't like what's ours being messed with." Laxus shook the man again, "mess with her, you mess with Fairy Tail, and I won't be the only one after you, I can guarantee you that, but their all gonna have to get in line." He grinned an animalistic grin and finally threw Jude into his chair, the fear that passed across his face was priceless and Laxus couldn't help but let out a booming laugh. "I'll leave you to think about it," he said and with that the lightning dragon slayer turned heel and left.

Lucy was still waiting for him when he got back to her; she stood up from where she was siting and walked up to him. "Everything okay?" She asked, worry pulling her eyebrows together, she reached up as if to touch his face but hesitated.

Before she could put her hand down he grabbed it though and brought it up to his chest, he could feel her heart hammering and it made him swell with longing, he wanted badly to kiss her senseless right then and there. Screw this he was tired of skirting around her with his own feelings toward her, he wanted her and he was going to make sure she knew that.

Lucy was genuinely confused when he grabbed her hand and placed it on his chest, right above his heartbeat and it made her own stutter in response, the look in his eyes was almost hungry and when he leaned down she didn't expect him to lock his lips over hers.

It was small at first, he just placed his lips over hers in a gentle touch but when she sighed he took it further grabbing her chin with his free hand, the one that held her hand over his heart slipped down and encircled her waist pulling her against him, his kiss became more intense, more passionate and she responded eagerly.

When they finally broke apart she looked confused, and he rubbed a thumb over cheek before answering her questioning gaze. "I want to do this right" he told her softly "I don't expect anything… not right now anyway, but I needed you to know how I felt. I want you" he said bluntly "All of you and eventually I will."

She raised her eyebrow at his cockiness and he grinned, he wasn't sorry "But I'll make sure I…. court you… first." The words court were a bit heavy on his tongue, since he never said it in his life, and he most certainly never advanced any "relationship" he ever had, because it never went that far.

Lucy giggled and it was his turn to cock an eyebrow up at her, "I can tell that was almost painful" she teased, she mulled it over for a minute before speaking slowly as if weighing her words carefully. "Fine, if you really want me then you'll show me, I don't play games Laxus I want something real, and I won't play hard to get, you know that." She said so seriously he had to frown at that.

"I don't want to have to fight for it; I want someone else to do it this time." She softly told him, looking down at his chest since he was still holding her very close.

"What do you mean this time?" He asked her, but she just shook her head in response, looking up at him, she smiled.

"C'mon, I'm sure the others are worried, and I'm sure Master is eagerly awaiting you lecture" she giggled and stepped away from him holding out her hand for Laxus to take.

He sighed when her warmth left him but he took her hand in his own and walked with her, groaning when he realized she was right… he was gonna get the lecture of his life. Fuck.

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I always seem to forget to add the spaces for time skips before posting... ooops