*Lucy's P.O.V*

I hugged Natsu tighter as I listened to the footsteps coming closer , clanking on the cool limestone flooring. My breath hitched as I heard soft metal clanking together: keys. The footsteps stopped right by the cell, I must have squeezed Natsu harder because in result he whispered to me 

"don't worry Luce... I'm here." While rubbing my back in a circular motion . His actions soothed my nerves a bit, but the adrenaline in my body sped up as the cell door slide open , revealing those on the other side.

Natsu's and my dad stand together shoulder to shoulder with relief written on their faces but anger and hate in their eyes. My dad was the first to make the move 

"Lucy Heartfilia, you should be ashamed of your self... Having me 'worry' so much." I glared up at him as my wordless reply. My father seemed like in another second his head would blow off with anger. 

"I would like to take my daughter back home, with out any charge against the boy. Now can I please take her home?" He asked the guard closest to the cell door.

"I don't see why not, this is just a holding cell after all."

"Brilliant, that makes this situation a whole lot better." Natsu's dad said finally involving him self in the conversation. After their little chat had finally finished, our dads yanked us out of the cells and started dragging Natsu a different direction than my dad was going. Natsu and I started reaching out for each other in a way to not separate. We kept fitting our dads' strength, but it wasn't working.

"Dad please at least let me say good bye to Natsu, then I will go home with you: I promise." I made a proclamation hoping he would except. Both dads seemed to stop and ponder the idea while Natsu and I hang there as if we were dangling from a clothes line. After a few minutes of pure silence the dads looked at each other and nodded in agreement of their answer. Natsu's dad was the one to answer it. 

"Fine but you only have a minute, besides you'll see each other in school Monday anyway right?" Natsu and I were shocked out of our minds, they were letting us still go to school, even after we ran away? Once my dad let go of my arm I ran as fast as I could to Natsu and basically jumped on him. He chuckled and wrapped his arms around me while I did the same.

I whispered something so only he could hear me 

"I may not know what love is, but I think I love you bestie!" I said with a pure joyous smile. I giggled when I started to see his ears turn red with embarrassment.

"I think I love you too Luce, when I see you on Monday I wanna show you something ...OK?"

"OK" I answered squeezing him harder.

"OK, times up. You'll both see each other tomorrow at school anyway." My dad said. I let go of Natsu and started walking over to my dad

"Goodbye Natsu."

"Bye Luce." We said to one another smiling and waving.

*time skip*

I just got home (with my dad of course but right now you probably figured that) and had a wondering question floating around in my head, just waiting to get out through my mouth. So I let it.

"Dad... Why are you being so nice?" He looked back at me and back forward again.

"When you ran away I felt something hurt in my chest where my heart is suppose to be. After a lot of thinking it opened my eyes to what I've done to you, and I just wasn't right ..." Then he fixed his gentle composure to splintering anger in just a second. 

"But I really don't care... But of course I'll still let you go to school with that guy. Because people might get suspicious." With the end of his speech he picked me up by my hair and threw me down the hall way until I crashed into the door mirror : at the end of the hall. He was taking steep steps towards me while he balled his hands into fists.

"If you ever run away or even think about it I will personally kill you." He said in a calm voice but made sure that his words were laced with venom. He hit me, then again, and again. This kept going on for thirty minutes; until he was satisfied, but for good measure he stomped his foot into my ribs putting a lot of force down. He was done once he heard my ribs cracking.

"There now make me diner and get a start on cleaning the house. "  I nodded picking my self up slowly and walked away.

*Natsu's P.O.V*
When my father and I entered the house he handed me a small rectangle box.

"What is this?" I asked looking at him

"A phone." My father answered like it was the most obvious thing ever.

"Why did you get me one?"

"To keep up with your girlfriend. But also as and apology gift."

"Apology?"

"Yes... I'm sorry for the way I have treated you. You don't deserve to be beaten. I'm sorry." I was absolutely shocked ... He finally opened up his eyes?!?!

"But why all of a sudden?" I asked this question with out thinking

"When you left I felt something that I haven't felt in a long time... Pain.. The pain of losing someone dear to me. I have to admit after I lost your mother I was not a father to you at all... But if you are willing to let me restart and get a second chance, I will gladly try to fill that role." I pondered on the request.

"Fine ,old man..." I said with a smirk

"Old man... I'm not that old now am I... " he said with a chuckle.

*Lucy's P.O.V*

Once I was done cooking my father's supper I began cleaning the house. I started with the kitchen then my fathers study. For me just being gone for a few days put this house in wreck. Dust and dirt every where.
A few hours later I had finally finished cleaning. I walked up to my father ....

"Am I free to return to my room?" I asked leaning on a nearby walk as my support.

"Yes you are free to return to your room. But.. Did you eat?" He asked worriedly
Eat?.. Did I eat, well of course not. Why would he care any way?

"No I did not father. I will take my leave now-" before I could finish my sentence he cut me off

"Eat for Pete's sake.." He said with his eyes filled with concern.

"Nah, don't worry about it father. I'm not really all that hungry." I said with a forced smile and started limping down the hall way; leaning on the wall until my dad called me again.

"Lucy, are you injured? How badly?" I looked behind my shoulder to see him following me.... I'm so confused right now...

"No father I'm completely fine." I showed another forced smile , and made my self walk normally (which hurt like hell!)

"Well if that's the case... Here you go" he handed me a small box

"What's this for?" The box was a phone

"I don't know ... I guess to keep up with your boyfriend... Plus wouldn't people get suspicious of a teenage girl, who doesn't have a cell phone." I nodded and with that continued to walk down the hall and up the stairs to my room. When I had closed the door I let go of the act and limped to my filthy mattress that I call a bed. I slowly cringed as I lay down trying to get comfortable. I pulled out the phone my dad got me, and I explored on it until I figured out how to use it. Maybe tomorrow I can get Natsu's number. I remember him and Lisanna texting me in school... But that was the school's device called buddy bop. Its like a phone but you can only message, by the end of the day you have to return them to the office, but Yea. I slowly started drifted off to dark and dreamless sleep.

I woke up in the morning to someone pounding on my door, huh... Who can that be?

"Come in..." I responded. And soon the owner if the knocks opened the door and walked over to me.

"Are you well enough to go to school? Or do you just want to skip?" My dad asked kindly.

"I'm fine. I just need to get ready." I started to get up but fell back cringing in pain.

"ARE YOU OK!?!?" My father asked worried.

"I'm fine, just a little sore." I get up fully this time and walk to my bathroom. I grab a clean uniform on my way. When I get in the bathroom I strip and take a shower. When I dry off I look at all the the cuts and black and blue marks. I have gym today so I grabbed some liquid makeup and hid all the injuries. Once satisfied I put my uniform, brushed my teeth, and put my hair up in a messy bun. I walked out if my room while grabbing my backpack (filled with books and completed homework) and my new phone. I slowly trudged down the stairs , but before I walk out the door my dad stopped me again.

"I'm really sorry about last night... I feel ashamed .. Don't worry about cooking my breakfast ... I hired some maids. I thought it was about time . you should eat something before you go." The whole time he talked I didn't face him.

"No Its OK... I'm not really all that hungry. Any way I should go." Before he could stop me again I walked all the way to school.

*Natsu's P.O.V*

I woke up the next morning early, excited to see Luce. I did my whole morning routine and skipped down the steps. I had already put my new phone in my pocket and already had my backpack on.

"Hey son have a good day at school , and tell you girlfriend I said hi."

"... Father she's not my girlfriend .." I said blushing.

"By that face you want her to be.. Am I right?"

"I don't know.. Never really knew what love felt like.. But I do have strong feelings for her that are unknown to me." I replied. He stayed silent probably feeling guilty

"Well any way I should go, I really want to see Luce." And with that I ran out the door on my way to school.

After five minutes of full on sprinting I made it through the school gates and to a group of my friends.

"Yo Natsu!" Gray called

"Sup gray!"

"I'm surprised Lucy isn't with you.." Mira said sadly.

"Yea... " I started to frown but got happy when I remembered something

"I finally got a phone!" I said cheerfully pulling the smart phone out of my pocket... I got a series of claps and cheers . I passed my phone around my group of friends letting them program their numbers into the my contacts. While they were doing that my mind was some where else looking out for Luce. After about three minutes I see her by the main gate. I ran from my group of friends (they stopped what they were doing and video tapped the event) over to my Luce. When I reached her I picked her up by her waist swinging her round and round. I set her down and hugged her tight. I heard her giggling , that made me tighten my grip, but when I did she tensed and cringed in pain . I let go of the hug and looked her in the eyes...

"Luce... Did he.." I let the sentence flow ... All she did was nod

"Are you OK?" I asked checking her body

"I'm fine Natsu.. People are staring." She looked away blush present on her cheeks. I looked around to see it was true, I instantly flushed and the swarm or people around us awwed. Luce and I blushed even more. I take her by the hand lacing our fingers together. We walked over to our group of friends to see them smirking and chuckling .

"What..?" I asked blushing

"Oh.. Nothing!" They all said laughing. I turn to Luce

"I just got a phone last night!" Her eyes widen

"Me too..!" She smiled

"Can I um... Uh...have-" I was cut off by the bell. Damn it !!! I was going to ask for her number ... We all parted ways heading to class... Gray handed me back my phone. I walked sadly to class. I sat down in my assigned seat next to levy.

"Natsu. Pssst " levy whispered trying to get my attention

"What?" I asked looking over ...

"Don't be sad ... I have Lucy in my next hour.. I'll ask for her number and give it to you!" She smiled brightly at me.. Omg I smiled like an idiot when she said that !!! With that I was finally able to cheer up and focus on what the teacher saying waiting to get the special information from my buddy levy.