Daddy's Little Lucy

It's next morning after our fight with the stone monster and the twin's sneak attack. Lucy was acting like her normal self but something seemed off. She would stay less than a few steps away from me, even gripping my pants when I'm standing still. When I carry her, she grips my scarf or vest and would be reluctant to let go when I put her down. Gray, Sting, Rogue and I were sitting at a table inside the guild. Lucy gripped my vest as she sat sideways on my lap.

While we were talking I stroked her back calmly. I noticed she was being a little too quiet at the moment. I turned away from the conversation to look for Mira but I notice Gramps thinking as he sat on the bar counter. He would look here from time to time and I wondered what he was thinking about. He nodded like he liked his idea and jumped off the bar counter. I watched as he walked over to the Thunder Legion's table.

I was distracted from Gramps when Mira placed a strawberry milkshake in front of me and Lucy. "Here you go Natsu, one strawberry milkshake for Lucy" Mira said, "how did you know I wanted to order this for Lucy?" I asked curiously. She giggled, "I can just tell" she said and walked off to serve some other guild members. 'Thanks Mira' I thought and looked down at Lucy on my lap. She was watching Gajeel teasing Levy, "it's Levy, Le-vy" Levy complained. "Shrimp, Shr-imp. Yep sounds right" Gajeel teased with his signature 'gihi'. Levy pouted and started hitting his chest although it didn't hurt him.

"Hey Lucy" I cooed and she turned her head up to look at me with her big brown eyes. "Mira brought you a strawberry milkshake, would you like to drink it?" I cooed and she nodded. She turned her body till she was sitting forward on my lap. I pulled the milkshake closer to her and she held the glass as she drank from the straw. Once she finished her milkshake, she gave me a big smile.

Suddenly Gramps came over to our table with a displeased Laxus. "Natsu, Gray, Sting, Rogue could you come to my office?" Gramps asked. I was about to ask if I can bring Lucy since she doesn't want to be apart from me but Gramps answered. "Yes Natsu, you can bring Lucy. It does concern her after all" he said and walked towards his office with Laxus. "Wonder what this is about?" Gray asked, "I'm as curious as you" I replied as we headed to Gramps' office. I carried Lucy in my arms and she looked curious, probably since it concerns her.

Once inside his office, Gramps was standing in front of his desk while Laxus was leaning on the wall beside him. "So what's this about Gramps?" I asked, curiously. "Well to be frank, Lucy needs to get a break from you four, especially you Natsu" Gramps answered. "What do you mean Gramps?!" I exclaimed, "I have noticed that Lucy is clinging to you out of fear of being attacked again" Gramps replied. After what Gramps said, it all made sense. Those twins attacked Lucy knowing she was away from me but seemed to underestimate Mira's power. No wonder Lucy doesn't want to leave my side.

"So, I've organised you four to go on a job for a week while Laxus here takes care of Lucy" Gramps continued. "NO! I want to stay with Daddy!" Lucy complained, hugging my neck tightly. "Lucy" I muttered, as I looked down at her. I don't like idea of leaving Lucy but Laxus is one of the strongest wizards in Fairy Tail. So I know I can trust Lucy's safety with him.

"One problem, Rogue and I aren't from Fairy Tail" Sting brought up, "this job requests both Sabertooth and Fairy Tail wizards" Gramps replied. Sting and Rogue seemed to agree to join Gray and me on this job. Sting muttered something about always wanting work on a job with me but I ignored it.

"When do we leave?" Gray asked, "right now" Gramps answered. We were shocked at how soon we had to leave. Laxus got off the wall and walked over to me. He grabbed a hold of Lucy's waist and tried pulling her off of me. "NO! NO! NOOOO!" she screamed, clinging to my neck. With one final big tug, she was finally pulled away from me.

She began crying as she struggled out of Laxus' arms. "Daddy!" she cried with her arms reaching out towards me. It broke my heart seeing her like this. "Here is the flyer don't worry about Lucy, she's in good hands" Gramps said over Lucy's crying and screaming as he handed Gray the flyer. "Come on Natsu" Gray said as he turned to walk out the door. I was hesitant to leave, "she'll be fine Natsu, just go" Laxus said.

I eventually left the room, closing the door as my heart kept breaking at the sounds of Lucy's cries for me from beyond the door. "Hey guys, what's going on? Why is Lucy crying?" Levy asked as she walked up to us with Gajeel and Mira behind her. Everyone was curious since Lucy's cries and screams can be heard from across the guild hall. "Lucy needs to spend some time away from us, especially Natsu. Since she's been clinging to him ever since the attack. So Gramps told us to go on a job to separate us from her" Gray explained. "Poor Lucy" Mira said with sympathy.

"Levy, do you mind picking up Lucy's stuff at her apartment to give to Laxus?" I asked. "Sure, but why to Laxus?" Levy asked, "because he will be taking care of Lucy while we're gone" I replied. "WHAT?!" the guild exclaimed, "did I hear you right? Did you really say Laxus?" Levy asked, doubting what I said. Gray, Sting, Rogue and I nodded in unison. "Oh we should get going, bye everyone" I said noticing we've been here for too long.

We ran towards Lucy's apartment where our stuff has been since she turned into a child. Gray also packed Lucy's things into a bag ready for Levy to pick up then we left for the train station. Sting and I became sick just from thinking about taking the train. I was surprised Rogue didn't look sick but he might be good at hiding his feeling. "So what's the job?" I asked and Gray read the flyer. "It's says we need to be bodyguards for a rich man during a conference for a week" he explained. "Lets get going" Sting said before we boarded the train. I hoped that Lucy would be alright without me for a week.